. 


• 


BEVERLY    OF   GKAUSTARK 


Beverly 


BEVERLY  OF 
GRAUSTARK 


BY 
GEORGE  BARR  McCUTCHEON 

Author  of 
"Graustark,"  "Castle  Craneycrow,"  etc. 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS 
BY  HARRIS    N    FISHER 


NEW  YORK 
DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 

1904 


Copyright,  1904, 

by 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY. 

All  rights  reserved. 

Dramatic  rights  reserved  by 
the  author. 

Published  September,  1904. 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  Page 

I  East  of  the  Setting  Sun 1 

II  Beverly  Calhoun 5 

III  On  the  Road  from  Balak      ....      18 

IV  The  Ragged  Retinue 31 

V  The  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven   .      .      42 

VI  The  Home  of  the  Lion 56 

VII  Some  Facts  and  Fancies 69 

VIII  Through  the  Ganlook  Gates.  ...  84 

IX  The  Redoutable  Dangloss  ..."  96 

X  Inside  the  Castle  Walls 108 

XI  The  Royal  Coach  of  Graustark .  .  .119 

XII  In  Service 132 

XIII  The  Three  Princes 144 

XIV  A  Visit  and  Its  Consequences     .      .      .157 
XV  The  Testing  of  Baldos     .      ."     .      .      .170 

XVI  On  the  Way  to  St.   Valentine's.      .      .181 

XVII  A  Note  Translated 191 

XVIII  Confessions  and  Concessions  ....   202 

2O54263 


vi  CONTENTS 

Chaptd  page 

XIX     The  Night  Fires 211 

XX  Gossip  of  Some  Consequence  .     .     .  225 

XXI     The  Rose 236 

XXII     A  Proposal ..249 

XXIII  A  Shot  in  the  Darkness     .     .     .     .262 

XXIV  Beneath  the  Ground 273 

XXV  The  Valor  of  the  South     .     .     .     .284 

XXVI  The  Degradation  of  Marlanx  .     .      .291 

XXVII  The  Prince  of  Dawsbergen      .     .      .303 

XXVIII     A  Boy  Disappears 316 

XXIX  The  Capture  of  Gabriel     ....   328 

XXX     In  the  Grotto 334 

XXXI  Clear  Skies                                             .   347 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Beverly Frontispit 


tece 


Facing 
page 

"  *  Who — who  in  heaven's  name  are  you  ? '  she 

faltered"  .  34 


" ( Your  highness/  he  said,  clearly,  coolly,  *  I  fear 

we  have  spies  and  eavesdroppers  here"      .    142 

"  *  That  was  beautiful,'  murmured  Beverly,  look 
ing  up,  fascinated  for  the  moment"     .      .   208 

«"I  hated  you  to-night,  I  thought,'  she  cried, 

taking  his  face  in  her  hands"     ....   354 


Beverly   of  Graustark 


CHAPTER  I 
EAST  OF  THE  SETTING  SUN 

AR  off  in  the  mountain  lands,  some 
where  to  the  east  of  the  setting  sun, 
lies  the  principality  of  Graustark, 
serene  relic  of  rare  old  feudal  days. 
The  traveler  reaches  the  little  do 
main  after  an  arduous,  sometimes 
perilous  journey  from  the  great  European  capitals, 
whether  they  be  north  or  south  or  west  —  never 
east.  He  crosses  great  rivers  and  wide  plains;  he 
winds  through  fertile  valleys  and  over  barren  pla 
teaus;  he  twists  and  turns  and  climbs  among  sombre 
gorges  and  rugged  mountains;  he  touches  the  cold 
clouds  in  one  day  and  the  placid  warmth  of  the  valley 
in  the  next.  One  does  not  go  to  Graustark  for  a 
pleasure  jaunt.  It  is  too  far  from  the  rest  of  the 
world  and  the  ways  are  often  dangerous  because  of 
the  strife  among  the  tribes  of  the  intervening  moun 
tains.  If  one  hungers  for  excitement  and  peril  he 
finds  it  in  the  journey  from  the  north  or  the  south 
into  the  land  of  the  Graustarkians.  From  Vienna 

1 


2  BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

and  other  places  almost  directly  west  the  way  is  not 
so  full  of  thrills,  for  the  railroad  skirts  the  darkest 
of  the  dangerlands. 

Once  in  the  heart  of  Graustark,  however,  the  trav 
eler  is  charmed  into  dreams  of  peace  and  happiness 
and  —  paradise.  The  peasants  and  the  poets  sing 
in  one  voice  and  accord,  their  psalm  being  of  never- 
ending  love.  Down  in  the  lowlands  and  up  in  the 
hills,  the  simple  worker  of  the  soil  rejoices  that  he 
lives  in  Graustark ;  in  the  towns  and  villages  the  hum 
ble  merchant  and  his  thrifty  customer  unite  to  sing 
the  song  of  peace  and  contentment;  in  the  palaces  of 
the  noble  the  same  patriotism  warms  its  heart  with 
thoughts  of  Graustark,  the  ancient.  Prince  and 
pauper  strike  hands  for  the  love  of  the  land,  while 
outside  the  great,  heartless  world  goes  rumbling  on 
without  a  thought  of  the  rare  little  principality 
among  the  eastern  mountains. 

In  point  of  area,  Graustark  is  but  a  mite  in  the 
great  galaxy  of  nations.  Glancing  over  the  map  of 
the  world,  one  is  almost  sure  to  miss  the  infinitesimal 
patch  of  green  that  marks  its  location.  One  could 
not  bo  blamed  if  he  regarded  the  spot  as  a  typograph 
ical  or  topographical  illusion.  Yet  the  people  of  this 
quaint  little  land  hold  in  their  hearts  a  love  and  a  con 
fidence  that  is  not  surpassed  by  any  of  the  lordly  mon- 
archs  who  measure  their  patriotism  by  miles  and  mil 
lions.  The  Graustarkians  are  a  sturdy,  courageous 
race.  From  the  faraway  century  when  they  fought 
themselves  clear  of  the  Tartar  yoke,  to  this  very  hour, 
they  have  been  warriors  of  might  and  valor.  The 


EAST    OF    THE    SETTING    SUN        3 

boundaries  of  their  tiny  domain  were  kept  inviolate 
for  hundreds  of  years,  and  but  one  victorious  foe  had 
come  down  to  lay  siege  to  Edelweiss,  the  capital. 
Axphain,  a  powerful  principality  in  the  north,  had 
conquered  Graustark  in  the  latter  part  of  the  nine 
teenth  century,  but  only  after  a  bitter  war  in  which 
starvation  and  famine  proved  far  more  destructive 
than  the  arms  of  the  victors.  The  treaty  of  peace 
and  the  indemnity  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  vanquished 
Graustark  have  been  discoursed  upon  at  length  in  at 
least  one  history. 

Those  who  have  followed  that  history  must  know, 
of  course,  that  the  reigning  princess,  Yetive,  was  mar 
ried  to  a  young  American  at  the  very  tag-end  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  This  admirable  couple  met  in 
quite  romantic  fashion  while  the  young  sovereign  was 
traveling  incognito  through  the  United  States  of 
America.  The  American,  a  splendid  fellow  named 
Lorry,  was  so  persistent  in  the  subsequent  attack 
upon  her  heart,  that  all  ancestral  prejudices  were 
swept  away  and  she  became  his  bride  with  the  full  con 
sent  of  her  entranced  subjects.  The  manner  in  which 
he  wooed  and  won  this  young  and  adorable  ruler  forms 
a  very  attractive  chapter  in  romance,  although  un- 
mentioned  in  history.  This  being  the  tale  of  another 
day,  it  is  not  timely  to  dwell  upon  the  interesting 
events  which  led  up  to  the  marriage  of  the  Princess 
Yetive  to  Grcnfall  Lorry.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  Lofry 
won  his  bride  against  all  wishes  and  odds  and  at  the 
same  time  won  an  endless  love  and  esteem  from  the 
people  of  the  little  kingdom  among  the  eastern  hills. 


4  BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Two  years  have  passed  since  that  notable  wedding  in 
Edelweiss. 

Lorry  and  his  wife,  the  princess,  made  their  home 
in  Washington,  but  spent  a  few  months  of  each  year 
in  Edelweiss.  During  the  periods  spent  in  Washing 
ton  and  in  travel,  her  affairs  in  Graustark  were  in  the 
hands  of  a  capable,  austere  old  diplomat  —  her  uncle, 
Count  Caspar  Halfont.  Princess  Volga  reigned  as 
regent  over  the  principality  of  Axphain.  To  the 
south  lay  the  principality  of  DaAvsbergen,  ruled  by 
young  Prince  Dantan,  whose  half  brother,  the  deposed 
Prince  Gabriel,  had  been  for  two  years  a  prisoner  in 
Graustark,  the  convicted  assassin  of  Prince  Lorenz,  of 
Axphain,  one  time  suitor  for  the  hand  of  Yetive. 

It  was  after  the  second  visit  of  the  Lorrys  to  Edel 
weiss  that  a  serious  turn  of  affairs  presented  itself. 
Gabriel  had  succeeded  in  escaping  from  his  dungeon. 
His  friends  in  Dawsbergen  stirred  up  a  revolution  and 
Dantan  was  driven  from  the  throne  at  Serros.  On  the 
arrival  of  Gabriel  at  the  capital,  the  army  of  Daws 
bergen  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Prince  it  had  spurned 
and,  three  days  after  his  escape,  he  was  on  his  throne, 
defying  Yetive  and  offering  a  price  for  the  head 
of  the  unfortunate  Dantan,  now  a  fugitive  in  the  hills 
along  the  Graustark  frontier. 


BEVERLY  CALHOUN 

AJOR  GEORGE  CALHOUN  was  a 

member  of  Congress  from  one  of  the 
southern  states.  His  forefathers  had 
represented  the  same  commonwealth, 
and  so,  it  was  likely,  would  his  de 
scendants,  if  there  is  virtue  in  the 
fitness  of  things  and  the  heredity  of  love.  While  in 
trepid  frontiersmen  were  opening  the  trails  through 
the  fertile  wilds  west  of  the  Alleghanies,  a  strong 
branch  of  the  Calhoun  family  followed  close  in  their 
footsteps.  The  major's  great-grandfather  saw  the 
glories  and  the  possibilities  of  the  new  territory.  He 
struck  boldly  westward  from  the  old  revolutionary- 
grounds,  abandoning  the  luxuries  and  traditions  of 
the  Carolinas  for  a  fresh,  wild  life  of  promise.  His 
sons  and  daughters  became  solid  stones  in  the  founda 
tion  of  a  commonwealth,  and  his  grandchildren  are 
still  at  work  on  the  structure.  State  and  national 
legislatures  had  known  the  Calhouns  from  the  begin 
ning.  Battlefields  had  tested  their  valor,  and  draw 
ing-rooms  had  proved  their  gentility. 

Major  Calhoun  had  fought  with  Stonewall  Jack 
son  and  won  his  spurs  —  and  at  the  same  time  the 
heart  and  hand  of  Betty  Haswell,  the  staunchest  Con 
federate  who  ever  made  flags,  bandages  and  prayers 

5 


6  BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

for  the  boys  in  gray.  When  the  reconstruction  came 
he  went  to  Congress  and  later  on  became  prominent  in 
the  United  States  consular  service,  for  years  hold 
ing  an  important  European  post.  Congress  claimed 
him  once  more  in  the  early  '90s,  and  there  he  is  at  this 
very  time. 

Everybody  in  Washington's  social  and  diplomatic 
circles  admired  the  beautiful  Beverly  Calhoun.  Ac 
cording  to  his  own  loving  term  of  identification,  she 
was  the  major's  "  youngest."  The  fair  southerner 
had  seen  two  seasons  in  the  nation's  capital.  Cupid, 
standing  directly  in  front  of  her,  had  shot  his  darts 
ruthlessly  and  resistlessly  into  the  passing  hosts,  and 
masculine  Wasliington  looked  humbly  to  her  for  the 
balm  that  might  soothe  its  pains.  The  wily  god  of 
love  was  fair  enough  to  protect  the  girl  whom  he 
forced  to  be  his  unwilling,  perhaps  unconscious,  ally. 
He  held  his  impenetrable  shield  between  her  heart 
and  the  assaults  of  a  whole  army  of  suitors,  high  and 
low,  great  and  small.  It  was  not  idle  rumor  that  said 
she  had  declined  a  coronet  or  two,  that  the  millions  of 
more  than  one  American  Midas  had  been  offered  to 
her,  and  that  she  had  dealt  gcntty  but  firmly  with  a 
score  of  hearts  which  had  nothing  but  love,  ambition 
and  poverty  to  support  them  in  the  conflict. 

The  Calhouns  lived  in  a  handsome  home  not  far 
from  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grcnfall  Lorry. 
It  seemed  but  natural  that  the  two  beautiful  young 
women  should  become  constant  and  loyal  friends. 
Women  as  lovely  as  they  have  no  reason  to  be  jealous. 
It  is  only  the  woman  who  does  not  feel  secure  of  her 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  7 

personal  charms  that  cultivates  envy.  At  the  home  of 
Graustark's  princess  Beverly  met  the  dukes  and  bar 
ons  from  the  far  east ;  it  was  in  the  warmth  of  the  Cal- 
lioun  hospitality  that  Yetive  formed  her  dearest  love 
for  the  American  people. 

Miss  Beverly  was  neither  tall  nor  short.  She  was 
of  that  divine  and  indefinite  height  known  as  medium ; 
slender  but  perfectly  molded ;  strong  but  graceful,  an 
absolutely  healthy  young  person  whose  beauty  knew 
well  how  to  take  care  of  itself.  Being  quite  heart- 
whole  and  fancy-free,  she  slept  well,  ate  well,  and  en 
joyed  every  minute  of  life.  In  her  blood  ran  the 
warm,  eager  impulses  of  the  south ;  hereditary  love  of 
ease  and  luxury  displayed  itself  in  every  emotion; 
the  perfectly  normal  demand  upon  men's  admiration 
was  as  characteristic  in  her  as  it  is  in  any  daughter  of 
the  land  whose  women  are  born  to  expect  chivalry  and 
homage. 

A  couple  of  years  in  a  New  York  "  finishing 
school "  for  young  ladies  had  served  greatly  to  mod 
ify  Miss  Calhoun's  colloquial  charms.  Many  of  her 
delightful  "  way  down  south  "  phrases  and  manner 
isms  were  blighted  by  the  cold,  unromantic  atmosphere 
of  a  seminary  conducted  by  two  ladies  from  Boston 
who  were  too  old  to  marry,  too  penurious  to  love  and 
too  prim  to  think  that  other  women  might  care  to  do 
both.  There  were  times,  however, —  if  she  were  ex 
cited  or  enthusiastic,—  when  pretty  Beverly  so  far 
forgot  her  training  as  to  break  forth  with  a  very  at 
tractive  "  yo'  all,"  "  suah  'nough,"  or  "  go  'long 
naow."  And  when  the  bands  played  "  Dixie  "  she 


8  BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

was  not  afraid  to  stand  up  and  wave  her  handker 
chief.  The  northerner  who  happened  to  be  with  her 
on  such  occasions  usually  found  himself  doing  like 
wise  before  he  could  escape  the  infection. 

Miss  Calhoun's  face  was  one  that  painters  coveted 
deep  down  in  their  artistic  souls.  It  never  knew  a 
dull  instant;  there  was  expression  in  every  lineament, 
in  every  look;  life,  genuine  life,  dwelt  in  the  mobile 
countenance  that  turned  the  head  of  every  man  and 
woman  who  looked  upon  it.  Her  hair  was  dark-brown 
and  abundant ;  her  eyes  were  a  deep  gray  and  looked 
eagerly  from  between  long  lashes  of  black ;  her  lips 
were  red  and  ever  willing  to  smile  or  turn  plaintive  as 
occasion  required;  her  brow  was  broad  and  fair,  and 
her  frown  was  as  dangerous  as  a  smile.  As  to  her  age, 
if  the  major  admitted,  somewhat  indiscreetly,  that  all 
his  children  were  old  enough  to  vote,  her  mother,  with 
the  reluctance  born  in  women,  confessed  that  she  was 
past  twenty,  so  a  year  or  two  either  way  will  determine 
Miss  Beverly's  age,  so  far  as  the  telling  of  this  story 
is  concerned.  Her  eldest  brother  —  Keith  Calhoun 
(the  one  with  the  congressional  heritage)  — thought 
she  was  too  young  to  marry,  while  her  second  brother, 
Dan,  held  that  she  soon  would  be  too  old  to  attract 
men  with  matrimonial  intentions.  Lucy,  the  onlv  sis 
ter,  having  been  happily  wedded  for  ten  years,  ad 
vised  her  not  to  think  of  marriage  until  she  was  old 
enough  to  know  her  own  mind. 

Toward  the  close  of  one  of  the  most  brilliant  sea 
sons  the  Capital  had  ever  known,  less  than  a  fortnight 
before  Congress  was  to  adjourn,  the  wife  of  Grenfall 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  9 

Lorry  received  the  news  which  spread  gloomy  disap 
pointment  over  the  entire  social  realm.  A  dozen  re 
ceptions,  teas  and  balls  were  destined  to  lose  their 
richest  attraction,  and  hostesses  were  in  despair.  The 
princess  had  been  called  to  Graustark. 

Beverly  Calhoun  was  miserably  unhappy.  She  had 
heard  the  story  of  Gabriel's  escape  and  the  consequent 
probability  of  a  conflict  with  Axphain.  It  did  not 
require  a  great  stretch  of  imagination  to  convince  her 
that  the  Lorrys  were  hurrying  off  to  scenes  of  in- 
rigue,  strife  and  bloodshed,  and  that  not  only  Grau 
stark  but  its  princess  was  in  jeopardy. 

Miss  Calhoun's  most  cherished  hopes  faded  with 
the  announcement  that  trouble,  not  pleasure,  called 
Yetive  to  Edelweiss.  It  had  been  their  plan  that 
Beverly  should  spend  the  delightful  summer  months 
in  Graustark,  a  guest  at  the  royal  palace.  The  orig 
inal  arrangements  of  the  Lorrys  were  hopelessly  dis 
turbed  by  the  late  news  from  Count  Halfont.  They 
were  obliged  to  leave  Washington  two  months  earlier 
than  they  intended,  and  they  could  not  take  Beverly 
Calhoun  into  danger-ridden  Graustark.  The  con 
templated  visit  to  St.  Petersburg  and  other  pleasures 
had  to  be  abandoned,  and  they  were  in  tears. 

Yetive' s  maids  were  packing  the  trunks,  and  Lorry's 
servants  were  in  a  wild  state  of  haste  preparing  for 
the  departure  on  Saturday's  ship.  On  Friday  after 
noon,  Beverly  was  naturally  where  she  could  do  the 
most  good  and  be  of  the  least  help  —  at  the  Lorrys'. 
Self-confessedly,  she  delayed  the  preparations.  Re 
spectful  maidservants  and  respectful  menservants 


10         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

came  often  to  the  princess's  boudoir  to  ask  questions, 
and  Beverly  just  as  frequently  made  tearful  resolu 
tions  to  leave  the  household  in  peace  —  if  such  a  hulla- 
balloo  could  be  called  peace.  Callers  came  by  the 
dozen,  but  Yetive  would  see  no  one.  Letters,  tele 
grams  and  telephone  calls  almost  swamped  her  secre 
tary  ;  the  footman  and  the  butler  fairly  gasped  under 
the  strain  of  excitement.  Through  it  all  the  two 
friends  sat  despondent  and  alone  in  the  drear  room 
that  once  had  been  the  abode  of  pure  delight.  Gren- 
fall  Lorry  was  off  in  town  closing  up  all  matters  of 
business  that  could  be  despatched  at  once.  The  prin 
cess  and  her  industrious  retinue  were  to  take  the 
evening  express  for  New  York  and  the  next  day  would 
find  them  at  sea. 

"  I  know  I  shall  cry  all  summer,"  vowed  Miss  Cal- 
houn,  with  conviction  in  her  eyes.  "  It's  just  too 
awful  for  anything."  She  was  lying  back  among  the 
cushions  of  the  divan  and  her  hat  was  the  picture  of 
cruel  neglect.  For  three  solid  hours  she  had  stub 
bornly  withstood  Yctive's  appeals  to  remove  her  hat, 
insisting  that  she  could  not  trust  herself  to  stay  more 
than  a  minute  or  two.  "  It  seems  to  me,  Yetive,  that 
your  jailers  must  be  very  incompetent  or  they 
wouldn't  have  let  loose  all  this  trouble  upon  you,"  she 
complained. 

"  Prince  Gabriel  is  the  very  essence  of  trouble," 
confessed  Yetive,  plaintively.  "  He  was  born  to  an 
noy  people,  just  like  the  evil  prince  in  the  fairy  tales." 

"  I  wish  we  had  him  over  here,"  the  American  girl 
answered  stoutly.  "  He  wouldn't  be  such  a  trouble, 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  11 

I'm  sure.  We  don't  let  small  troubles  worry  us  very 
long,  you  know." 

"  But  he's  dreadfully  important  over  there,  Bev 
erly  ;  that's  the  difficult  part  of  it,"  said  Yetive,  sol 
emnly.  "  You  see,  he  is  a  condemned  murderer." 

"  Then,  you  ought  to  hang  him  or  electrocute  him 
or  whatever  it  is  that  you  do  to  murderers  over  there," 
promptly  spoke  Beverly. 

"  But,  dear,  you  don't  understand.  He  won't  per 
mit  us  either  to  hang  or  to  electrocute  him,  my  dear. 
The  situation  is  precisely  the  reverse,  if  lie  is  cor 
rectly  quoted  by  my  uncle.  When  Uncle  Caspar  sent 
an  envoy  to  inform  Dawsbcrgen  respectfully  that 
Graustark  would  hold  it  personally  responsible  if 
Gabriel  were  not  surrendered,  Gabriel  himself  replied : 
'  Graustark  be  hanged ! ' ; 

"  How  rude  of  him,  especially  when  your  uncle  was 
so  courteous  about  it.  He  must  be  a  very  disagree 
able  person,"  announced  Miss  Calhoun. 

"  I  am  sure  you  wouldn't  like  him,"  said  the  prin 
cess.  "  His  brother,  who  has  been  driven  from  the 
throne  —  and  from  the  capital,  in  fact  —  is  quite  dif 
ferent.  I  have  not  seen  him,  but  my  ministers  regard 
him  as  a  splendid  young  man." 

"  Oh,  how  I  hope  he  may  go  back  with  his  army  and 
annihilate  that  old  Gabriel !  "  cried  Beverly,  frowning 
fiercely. 

"  Alas,"  sighed  the  princess,  "  he  hasn't  an  army, 
and  besides  he  is  finding  it  extremely  difficult  to  keep 
from  being  annihilated  himself.  The  army  has  gone 
over  to  Prince  Gabriel." 


12          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Pooh !  "  scoffed  Miss  Calhoun,  who  was  thinking 
of  the  enormous  armies  the  United  States  can  produce 
at  a  day's  notice.  "  What  good  is  a  ridiculous  little 
army  like  his,  anyway?  A  battalion  from  Fort 
Thomas  could  beat  it  to " 

"  Don't  boast,  dear,"  interrupted  Yetive,  with  a 
wan  smile.  "  Dawsbergcn  has  a  standing  army  of  ten 
thousand  excellent  soldiers.  With  the  war  reserves 
she  has  twice  the  available  force  I  can  produce." 

"  But  your  men  are  so  brave,"  cried  Beverly,  who 
had  heard  their  praises  sung. 

"  True,  God  bless  them ;  but  you  forget  that  we 
must  attack  Gabriel  in  his  own  territory.  To  recap 
ture  him  means  a  perilous  expedition  into  the  moun 
tains  of  Dawsbergen,  and  I  am  sorely  afraid.  Oh, 
dear,  I  hope  he'll  surrender  peaceably !  " 

"And  go  back  to  jail  for  life?"  cried  Miss  Cal 
houn.  "  It's  a  good  deal  to  expect  of  him,  dear.  I 
fancy  it's  much  better  fun  kicking  up  a  rumpus  on 
the  outside  than  it  is  kicking  one's  toes  off  against  an 
obdurate  stone  wall  from  the  inside.  You  can't  blame 
him  for  fighting  a  bit." 

"  No  —  I  suppose  not,"  agreed  the  princess,  miser 
ably.  "  Gren  is  actually  happy  over  the  miserable 
affair,  Beverly.  He  is  full  of  enthusiasm  and  posi 
tively  aching  to  be  in  Graustark  —  right  in  the  thick 
of  it  all.  To  hear  him  talk,  one  would  think  that 
Prince  Gabriel  has  no  show  at  all.  He  kept  me  up  till 
four  o'clock  this  morning  telling  me  that  Dawsbergen 
didn't  know  what  kind  of  a  snag  it  was  going  up 
against.  I  have  a  vague  idea  what  he  means  by  that ; 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  13 

his  manner  did  not  leave  much  room  for  doubt.  He 
also  said  that  we  would  jolt  Dawsbergen  off  the  map. 
It  sounds  encouraging,  at  least,  doesn't  it?  " 

"  It  sounds  very  funny  for  you  to  say  those  things," 
admitted  Beverly,  "  even  though  they  come  second 
hand.  You  were  not  cut  out  for  slang." 

"  Why,  I'm  sure  they  are  all  good  English  words," 
remonstrated  Yetivc.  "  Oh,  dear,  I  wonder  what  they 
are  doing  in  Graustark  this  very  instant.  Are  they 
fighting  or 

"  No ;  they  are  merely  talking.  Don't  you  know, 
dear,  that  there  is  never  a  fight  until  both  sides  have 
talked  themselves  out  of  breath?  We  shall  have  six 
months  of  talk  and  a  week  or  two  of  fight,  just  as 
they  always  do  nowadays." 

"  Oh,  you  Americans  have  such  a  comfortable  way 
of  looking  at  things,"  cried  the  princess.  "  Don't  you 
ever  see  the  serious  side  of  life  ?  " 

"  My  dear,  the  American  always  lets  the  other  fel 
low  see  the  serious  side  of  life,"  said  Beverly. 

"  You  wouldn't  be  so  optimistic  if  a  country  much 
bigger  and  more  powerful  than  America  happened  to 
be  the  other  fellow." 

"  It  did  sound  frightfully  boastful,  didn't  it?  It's 
the  way  we've  been  brought  up,  I  reckon, —  even  we 
southerners  who  know  what  it  is  to  be  whipped.  The 
idea  of  a  girl  like  me  talking  about  war  and  trouble 
and  all  that !  It's  absurd,  isn't  it?  " 

"  Nevertheless,  I  wish  I  could  see  things  through 
those  dear  gray  eyes  of  yours.  Oh,  how  I'd  like  to 
have  you  with  me  through  ail  the  months  that  are  to 


14         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

come.  You  would  be  such  a  help  to  me  —  such  a  joy. 
Nothing  would  seem  so  hard  if  you  were  there  to  make 
me  see  things  through  your  brave  American  eyes." 
The  princess  put  her  arms  about  Beverly's  neck  and 
drew  her  close. 

"  But  Mr.  Lorry  possesses  an  excellent  pair  of 
American  eyes,"  protested  Miss  Beverly,  loyally  and 
very  happily. 

"  I  know,  dear,  but  they  are  a  man's  eyes.  Some 
how,  there  is  a  difference,  you  know.  I  wouldn't  dare 
cry  when  he  was  looking,  but  I  could  boo-hoo  all  day 
if  you  were  there  to  comfort  me.  He  thinks  I  am  very 
brave  —  and  I'm  not,"  she  confessed,  dismally. 

"  Oh,  I'm  an  awful  coward,"  explained  Beverly, 
consolingly.  "  I  think  you  are  the  bravest  girl  in  all 
the  world,"  she  added.  "  Don't  you  remember  what 
you  did  at  —  "  and  then  she  recalled  the  stories  that 
had  come  from  Graustark  ahead  of  the  bridal  party 
two  years  before.  Yetive  was  finally  obliged  to  place 
her  hand  on  the  enthusiastic  visitor's  lips. 

"  Peace,"  she  cried,  blushing.  "  You  make  me  feel 
like  a-a  —  what  is  it  you  call  her  —  a  dime-novel 
heroine  ?  " 

"  A  yellow-back  girl?  Never!  "  exclaimed  Beverly, 
severely. 

Visitors  of  importance  in  administration  circles 
came  at  this  moment  and  the  princess  could  not  re 
fuse  to  see  them.  Beverly  Calhoun  reluctantly  de 
parted,  but  not  until  after  giving  a  promise  to  ac 
company  the  Lorry s  to  the  railway  station. 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  15 

The  trunks  had  gone  to  be  checked,  and  the  house 
hold  was  quieter  than  it  had  been  in  many  days.  There 
was  an  air  of  depression  about  the  place  that  had  its 
inception  in  the  room  upstairs  where  sober-faced 
Halkins  served  dinner  for  a  not  over-talkative  young 
couple. 

"  It  will  be  all  right,  dearest,"  said  Lorry,  divining 
his  wife's  thoughts  as  she  sat  staring  rather  soberly 
straight  ahead  of  her.  "  Just  as  soon  as  we  get  to 
Edelweiss,  the  whole  affair  will  look  so  simple  that  we 
can  laugh  at  the  fears  of  to-day.  You  see,  we  are  a 
long  way  off  j  ust  now." 

"  I  am  only  afraid  of  what  may  happen  before  we 
get  there,  Gren,"  she  said,  simply.  He  leaned  over 
and  kissed  her  hand,  smiling  at  the  emphasis  she  un 
consciously  placed  on  the  pronoun. 

Beverly  Calhoun  was  announced  just  before  coffee 
was  served,  and  a  moment  later  was  in  the  room.  She 
stopped  just  inside  the  door,  clicked  her  little  heels 
together  and  gravely  brought  her  hand  to  "  salute." 
Her  eyes  were  sparkling  and  her  lips  trembled  with 
suppressed  excitement. 

"  I  think  I  can  report  to  you  in  Edelweiss  next 
month,  general,"  she  announced,  with  soldierly  dig 
nity.  Her  hearers  stared  at  the  picturesque  recruit, 
and  Halkins  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  drop  Mr. 
Lorry's  lump  of  sugar  upon  the  table  instead  of  into 
the  cup. 

"  Explain  yourself,  sergeant !  "  finally  fell  from 
Lorry's  lips.  The  eyes  of  the  princess  were  begin 
ning  to  take  on  a  rapturous  glow. 


16         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTAKK 

"  May  I  have  a  cup  of  coffee,  please,  sir?  I've  been 
so  excited  I  couldn't  eat  a  mouthful  at  home."  She 
gracefully  slid  into  the  chair  Halkins  offered,  and 
broke  into  an  ecstatic  giggle  that  would  have  re 
sulted  in  a  court-martial  had  she  been  serving  any 
commander  but  Love. 

With  a  plenteous  supply  of  Southern  idioms  she 
succeeded  in  making  them  understand  that  the  major 
had  promised  to  let  her  visit  friends  in  the  legation  at 
St.  Petersburg  in  April  a  month  or  so  after  the  de 
parture  of  the  Lorrys. 

"  He  wanted  to  know  where  I'd  rather  spend  the 
Spring  —  Washin'ton  or  Lexin'ton,  and  I  told  him 
St.  Petersburg.  We  had  a  terrific  discussion  and 
neither  of  us  ate  a  speck  at  dinner.  Mamma  said  it 
would  be  all  right  for  me  to  go  to  St.  Petersburg  if 
Aunt  Josephine  was  still  of  a  mind  to  go,  too.  You 
see,  Auntie  was  scared  almost  out  of  her  boots  when 
she  heard  there  was  prospect  of  war  in  Graustark,  just 
as  though  a  tiny  little  war  like  that  could  make  any 
difference  away  up  in  Russia  —  hundreds  of  thou 
sands  of  miles  away  —  "  (with  a  scornful  wave  of  the 
hand) — "and  then  I  just  made  Auntie  say  she'd 
go  to  St.  Petersburg  in  April  —  a  whole  month 
sooner  than  she  expected  to  go  in  the  first  place  — 
and-  -" 

"  You  dear,  dear  Beverly !  "  cried  Yetive,  rushing 
joyously  around  the  table  to  clasp  her  in  her  arms. 

"  And  St.  Petersburg  really  isn't  a  hundred  thou 
sand  miles  from  Edelweiss,"  cried  Beverly,  gaily. 

"  It's  much  less  than  that,"   said  Lorry,  smiling. 


BEVERLY    CALHOUN  IT 

"  But  you  surely  don't  expect  to  come  to  Edelweiss 
if  we  arc  fighting.  We  couldn't  think  of  letting  you 
do  that,  you  know.  Your  mother  would  never  — 

"  My  mother  wasn't  afraid  of  a  much  bigger  war 
than  yours  can  ever  hope  to  be,"  cried  Beverly,  re 
sentfully.  "  You  can't  stop  me  if  I  choose  to  visit 
Graustark." 

"  Docs  your  father  know  that  you  contemplate  suc'i 
a  trip?"  asked  Lorry,  returning  her  handclasp  ?nd 
looking  doubtfully  into  the  swimming  blue  eyes  of 
his  wife. 

"  No,  he  doesn't,"  admitted  Beverly,  a  trifle  ag 
gressively. 

"  He  could  stop  you,  you  know,"  he  suggested. 
Yetive  was  discreetly  silent. 

"  But  he  won't  know  anything  about  it,"  cried 
Beverly  triumphantly. 

"  I  could  tell  him,  you  know,"  said  Lorry. 

"  No,  you  couldn't  do  anything  so  mean  as  that," 
announced  Beverly.  "  You're  not  that  sort." 


CHAPTER  III 
ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK 


PONDEROUS  coach  lumbered  slowly, 
almost  painfully,  along  the  narrow 
road  that  skirted  the  base  of  a  moun 
tain.  It  was  drawn  by  four  horses, 
and  upon  the  seat  sat  two  rough,  un 
kempt  Russians,  one  holding  the 
reins,  the  other  lying  back  in  a  lazy  doze.  The 
month  was  June  and  all  the  world  seemed  soft  and 
sweet  and  joyous.  To  the  right  flowed  a  turbulent 
mountain  stream,  boiling  savagely  with  the  alien 
waters  of  the  lood  season.  Ahead  of  the  creaking 
coach  rode  four  horsemen,  all  heavily  armed;  another 
quartette  followed  some  distance  in  the  rear.  At  the 
side  of  the  coach  an  officer  of  the  Russian  mounted 
police  was  riding  easily,  jangling  his  accoutrements 
with  a  vigor  that  disheartened  at  least  one  occupant 
of  the  vehicle.  The  windows  of  the  coach  doors  were 
lowered,  permitting  the  fresh  mountain  air  to  caress 
fondly  the  face  of  the  young  woman  who  tried  to  find 
comfort  in  one  of  the  broad  seats.  Since  early  morn 
she  had  struggled  with  the  hardships  of  that  seat,  and 
the  late  afternoon  found  her  very  much  out  of  pa 
tience.  The  opposite  seat  was  the  resting  place  of  a 
substantial  colored  woman  and  a  stupendous  pile  of 

18 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   19 

bags  and  boxes.  The  boxes  were  continually  toppling 
over  and  the  bags  were  forever  getting  under  the 
feet  of  the  once  placid  servant,  whose  face,  quite  luck 
ily,  was  much  too  black  to  reflect  the  anger  she  was 
able,  otherwise,  through  years  of  practice,  to  conceal. 

"  How  much  farther  have  we  to  go,  lieutenant?  " 
asked  the  girl  on  the  rear  seat,  plaintively,  even 
humbly.  The  man  was  very  deliberate  with  his  Eng 
lish.  He  had  been  recommended  to  her  as  the  best  lin 
guist  in  the  service  at  Radovitch,  and  he  had  a  repu 
tation  to  sustain. 

"  It  another  hour  is  but  yet,"  he  managed  to  in 
form  her,  with  a  confident  smile. 

"  Oh,  dear,"  she  sighed,  "  a  whole  hour  of  this ! " 

"  We  soon  be  dar,  Miss  Bev'ly ;  jes'  yo'  mak'  up  yo' 
mine  to  res'  easy-like,  an'  we  —  "  but  the  faithful  old 
colored  woman's  advice  was  lost  in  the  wrathful  ex 
clamation  that  accompanied  another  dislodgment  of 
bags  and  boxes.  The  wheels  of  the  coach  had  dropped 
suddenly  into  a  deep  rut.  Aunt  Fanny's  growls  were 
scarcely  more  potent  than  poor  Miss  Beverly's  moans. 

"  It  is  getting  worse  and  worse,"  exclaimed  Aunt 
Fanny's  mistress,  petulantly.  "  I'm  black  and  blue 
from  head  to  foot,  aren't  you,  Aunt  Fanny  ?  " 

"  Ah  cain'  say  as  to  de  blue,  Miss  Bev'ly.  Hit's  a 
mos'  monstrous  bad  road,  sho  'nough.  Stay  up  dar, 
will  yo' !  "  she  concluded,  jamming  a  bag  into  an 
upper  corner. 

Miss  Calhoun,  tourist  extraordinary,  again  con 
sulted  the  linguist  in  the  saddle.  She  knew  at  the  out 
set  that  the  quest  would  be  hopeless,  but  she  could 


20          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

think  of  no  better  way  to  pass  the  next  hour  than  to 
extract  a  mite  of  information  from  the  officer. 

"  Now  for  a  good  old  chat,"  she  said,  beaming  a 
smile  upon  the  grizzled  Russian.  "  Is  there  a  decent 
hotel  in  the  village  ?  "  she  asked. 

They  were  on  the  edge  of  the  village  before  she 
succeeded  in  finding  out  all  that  she  could,  and  it  was 
not  a  great  deal,  either.  She  learned  that  the  town 
of  Balak  was  in  Axphain,  scarcely  a  mile  from  the 
Graustark  line.  There  was  an  eating  and  sleeping 
house  on  the  main  street,  and  the  population  of  the 
place  did  not  exceed  three  hundred. 

When  Miss  Beverly  awoke  the  next  morning,  sore 
and  distressed,  she  looked  back  upon  the  night  with  a 
horror  that  sleep  had  been  kind  enough  to  interrupt 
only  at  intervals.  The  wretched  hostelry  lived  long  in 
her  secret  catalogue  of  terrors.  Her  bed  was  not  a 
bed ;  it  was  a  torture.  The  room,  the  table,  the  —  but 
it  was  all  too  odious  for  description.  Fatigue  was  her 
only  friend  in  that  miserable  hole.  Aunt  Fanny  had 
slept  on  the  floor  near  her  mistress's  cot,  and  it  was 
the  good  old  colored  woman's  grumbling  that  awoke 
Beverly.  The  sun  was  climbing  up  the  mountains  in 
the  east,  and  there  was  an  air  of  general  activity  about 
the  place.  Beverly's  watch  told  her  that  it  was  past 
eight  o'clock. 

"  Good  gracious !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  It's  nearly 
noon,  Aunt  Fanny.  Hurry  along  here  and  get  me 
up.  We  must  leave  this  abominable  place  in  ten  min 
utes."  She  was  up  and  racing  about  excitedly. 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   21 

"  Befo'  breakfas'?"  demanded  Aunt  Fanny 
weakly. 

"  Goodness,  Aunt  Fanny,  is  that  all  you  think 
about?" 

"  Well,  honey,  yo'  all  be  thinkin'  moughty  serious 
'bout  breakfas'  'long  to'ahds  'leben  o'clock.  Dat  li'l 
tummy  o'  yourn  '11  be  pow'ful  mad  'cause  yo' 
didn' " 

"  Very  well,  Aunt  Fanny,  you  can  run  along  and 
have  the  woman  put  up  a  breakfast  for  us  and  we'll 
eat  it  on  the  road.  I  positively  refuse  to  eat  another 
mouthful  in  that  awful  dining-room.  I'll  be  down  in 
ten  minutes." 

She  was  down  in  less.  Sleep,  no  matter  how  hard- 
earned,  had  revived  her  spirits  materially.  She  pro 
nounced  herself  ready  for  anything;  there  was  a 
wholesome  disdain  for  the  rigors  of  the  coming  ride 
through  the  mountains  in  the  way  she  gave  orders  for 
the  start.  The  Russian  officer  met  her  just  outside 
the  entrance  to  the  inn.  He  was  less  English  than 
ever,  but  he  eventually  gave  her  to  understand  that  he 
had  secured  permission  to  escort  her  as  far  as  Gan- 
look,  a  town  in  Graustark  not  more  than  fifteen  miles 
from  Edelweiss  and  at  least  two  days  from  Balak. 
Two  competent  Axphainian  guides  had  been  retained, 
and  the  party  was  quite  ready  to  start.  He  had  been 
warned  of  the  presence  of  brigands  in  the  wild  moun 
tainous  passes  north  of  Ganlook.  The  Russians  could 
go  no  farther  than  Ganlook  because  of  a  royal  edict 
from  Edelweiss  forbidding  the  nearer  approach  of 
armed  forces.  At  that  town,  however,  he  was  sure  she 


22          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

easily  could  obtain  an  escort  of  Graustarkian  soldiers. 

As  the  big  coach  crawled  up  the  mountain  road  and 
further  into  the  oppressive  solitudes,  Beverly  Calhoun 
drew  from  the  difficult  lieutenant  considerable  infor 
mation  concerning  the  state  of  affairs  in  Graustark. 
She  had  been  eagerly  awaiting  the  time  when  some 
thing  definite  could  be  learned.  Before  leaving  St. 
Petersburg  early  in  the  week  she  was  assured  that  a 
state  of  war  did  not  exist.  The  Princess  Yetive  had 
been  in  Edelweiss  for  six  weeks.  A  formal  demand 
was  framed  soon  after  her  return  from  America,  re 
quiring  Dawsbergen  to  surrender  the  person  of  Prince 
Gabriel  to  the  authorities  of  Graustark.  To  this  de 
mand  there  was  no  definite  response,  Dawsbergen  in 
solently  requesting  time  in  which  to  consider  the 
proposition.  Axphain  immediately  sent  an  envoy  to 
Edelweiss  to  say  that  all  friendly  relations  between 
the  two  governments  would  cease  unless  Graustark 
took  vigorous  steps  to  recapture  the  royal  assassin. 
On  one  side  of  the  unhappy  principality  a  strong, 
overbearing  princess  was  egging  Graustark  on  to 
fight,  while  on  the  other  side  an  equally  aggressive 
people  defied  Yetive  to  come  and  take  the  fugitive  if 
she  could.  The  poor  princess  was  between  two  ugly 
alternatives,  and  a  struggle  seemed  inevitable.  At 
Balak  it  was  learned  that  Axphain  had  recently  sent  a 
final  appeal  to  the  government  of  Graustark,  and  it 
was  no  secret  that  something  like  a  threat  accompa 
nied  the  message. 

Prince  Gabriel  was  in  complete  control  at  Serros 
and  was  disposed  to  laugh  at  the  demands  of  his  late 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   23 

captors.  His  half-brother,  the  dethroned  Prince  Dan- 
tan,  was  still  hiding  in  the  fastnesses  of  the  hills,  pro 
tected  by  a  small  company  of  nobles,  and  there  was 
no  hope  that  he  ever  could  regain  his  crown.  Gabriel's 
power  over  the  army  was  supreme.  The  general  pub 
lic  admired  Dantan,  but  it  was  helpless  in  the  face  of 
circumstances. 

"  But  why  should  Axphain  seek  to  harass  Grau- 
stark  at  this  time?"  demanded  Beverly  Calhoun,  in 
perplexity  and  wrath.  "  I  should  think  the  brutes 
would  try  to  help  her." 

"  There  is  an  element  of  opposition  to  the  course 
the  government  is  taking,"  the  officer  informed  her  in 
his  own  way,  "  but  it  is  greatly  in  the  minority.  The 
Axphainians  have  hated  Graustark  since  the  last  war, 
and  the  princess  despises  this  American.  It  is  an 
open  fact  that  the  Duke  of  Mizrox  leads  the  opposi 
tion  to  Princess  Volga,  and  she  is  sure  to  have  him 
ueheaded  if  the  chance  affords.  He  is  friendly  to 
Graustark  and  has  been  against  the  policy  of  his 
princess  from  the  start." 

"  I'd  like  to  hug  the  Duke  of  Mizrox,"  cried  Bev 
erly,  wrarmly.  The  officer  did  not  understand  her,  but 
Aunt  Fanny  was  scandalized. 

"  Good  Lawd ! "  she  muttered  to  the  boxes  and 
bags. 

As  the  coach  rolled  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  rock- 
shadowed  wilderness,  Beverly  Calhoun  felt  an  un 
deniable  sensation  of  awe  creeping  over  her.  The 
brave,  impetuous  girl  had  plunged  gaily  into  the  proj- 


ect  which  now  led  her  into  the  deadliest  of  uncer 
tainties,  with  but  little  thought  of  the  consequences. 

The  first  stage  of  the  journey  by  coach  had  been 
good  fun.  They  had  passed  along  pleasant  roads, 
through  quaint  villages  and  among  interesting  people, 
and  progress  had  been  rapid.  The  second  stage  had 
presented  rather  terrifying  prospects,  and  the  third 
day  promised  even  greater  vicissitudes.  Looking  from 
the  coach  windows  out  upon  the  quiet,  desolate  gran 
deur  of  her  surroundings,  poor  Beverly  began  to  ap 
preciate  how  abjectly  helpless  and  alone  she  was.  Her 
companions  were  ugly,  vicious-looking  men,  any  one 
of  whom  could  inspire  terror  by  a  look.  She  had  en 
trusted  herself  to  the  care  of  these  strange  creatures 
in  the  moment  of  inspired  courage  and  now  she  was 
constrained  to  regret  her  action.  True,  they  had 
proved  worthy  protectors  as  far  as  they  had  gone, 
but  the  very  possibilities  that  lay  in  their  power  were 
appalling,  now  that  she  had  time  to  consider  the 
situation. 

The  officer  in  charge  had  been  recommended  as  a 
trusted  servant  of  the  Czar;  an  American  consul  had 
secured  the  escort  for  her  direct  from  the  frontier 
patrol  authorities.  Men  high  in  power  had  vouched 
for  the  integrity  of  the  detachment,  but  all  this  was 
forgotten  in  the  mighty  solitude  of  the  mountains. 
She  was  beginning  to  fear  her  escort  more  than  she 
feared  the  brigands  of  the  hills. 

Treachery  seemed  printed  on  their  backs  as  they 
rode  ahead  of  her.  The  big  officer  was  ever  polite  and 
alert,  but  she  was  ready  to  distrust  him  on  the  slight- 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   25 

est  excuse.  These  men  could  not  help  knowing  that 
she  was  rich,  and  it  was  reasonable  for  them  to  suspect 
that  she  carried  money  and  jewels  with  her.  In  her 
mind's  eye  she  could  picture  these  traitors  rifling  her 
bags  and  boxes  in  some  dark  pass,  and  then  there  were 
other  horrors  that  almost  petrified  her  when  she  al 
lowed  herself  to  think  of  them. 

Here  and  there  the  travelers  passed  by  rude  cots 
where  dwelt  woodmen  and  mountaineers,  and  at  long 
intervals  a  solitary  but  picturesque  horseman  stood 
aside  and  gave  them  the  road.  As  the  coach  pene 
trated  deeper  into  the  gorge,  signs  of  human  life  and 
activity  became  fewer.  The  sun  could  not  send  his 
light  into  this  shadowy  tomb  of  granite.  The  rattle 
of  the  wheels  and  the  clatter  of  the  horses'  hoofs 
sounded  like  a  constant  crash  of  thunder  in  the  ears 
of  the  tender  traveler,  a  dainty  morsel  among  hawks 
and  wolves. 

There  was  an  unmistakable  tremor  in  her  voice  when 
she  at  last  found  heart  to  ask  the  officer  where  they 
were  to  spend  the  night.  It  was  far  past  noon  and 
Aunt  Fanny  had  suggested  opening  the  lunch-baskets. 
One  of  the  guides  was  called  back,  the  leader  being 
as  much  in  the  dark  as  his  charge. 

"  There  is  no  village  within  twenty  miles,"  he  said, 
"  and  we  must  sleep  in  the  pass." 

Beverly's  voice  faltered.  "  Out  here  in  all  this 

awful Then  she  caught  herself  quickly.  It 

came  to  her  suddenly  that  she  must  not  let  these  men 
see  that  she  was  apprehensive.  Her  voice  was  a  trifle 
shrill  and  her  eyes  glistened  with  a  strange  new  light 


26         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

as  she  went  on,  changing  her  tack  completely :  "  How 
romantic!  I've  often  wanted  to  do  something  like 
this." 

The  officer  looked  bewildered,  arid  said  nothing. 
Aunt  Fanny  was  speechless.  Later  on,  when  the 
lieutenant  had  gone  ahead  to  confer  with  the  guides 
about  the  suspicious  actions  of  a  small  troop  of  horse 
men  they  had  seen,  Beverly  confided  to  the  old  negress 
that  she  was  frightened  almost  out  of  her  boots,  but 
that  she'd  die  before  the  men  should  see  a  sign  of 
cowardice  in  a  Calhoun.  Aunt  Fanny  was  not  so 
proud  and  imperious.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  her 
high-strung  young  mistress  suppressed  the  wails  that 
long  had  been  under  restraint  in  Aunt  Fanny's  huge 
and  turbulent  bosom. 

"  Good  Lawd,  Miss  Bev'ly,  dey'll  chop  us  all  to 
pieces  an'  take  ouah  jewl'ry  an'  money  an'  clo'es  and 
ev'ything  else  we  done  got  about  us.  Good  Lawd, 
le's  tu'n  back,  Miss  Bev'ly.  We  ain'  got  no  mo'  show 
out  heah  in  dese  mountings  dan  a  — 

"  Be  still,  Aunt  Fanny !  "  commanded  Beverly,  with 
a  fine  show  of  courage.  "  You  must  be  brave.  Don't 
you  see  we  can't  turn  back?  It's  just  as  dangerous 
and  a  heap  sight  more  so.  If  we  let  on  we're  not 
one  bit  afraid  they'll  respect  us,  don't  you  see,  and 
men  never  harm  women  whom  they  respect." 

"  Umph !  "  grunted  Aunt  Fanny,  with  exaggerated 
irony. 

"  Well,  they  never  do !  "  maintained  Beverly,  who 
was  not  at  all  sure  about  it.  "  And  they  look  like 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   27 

real  nice  men  —  honest  men,  even  though  they  have 
such  awful  whiskers." 

"  Dey's  de  wust  trash  Ah  eveh  did  see,"  exploded 
Aunt  Fanny. 

"  Sh !  Don't  let  them  hear  you,"  whispered  Bev 
erly. 

In  spite  of  her  terror  and  perplexity,  she  was  com 
pelled  to  smile.  It  was  all  so  like  the  farce  come 
dies  one  sees  at  the  theatre. 

As  the  officer  rode  up,  his  face  was  pale  in  the 
shadowy  light  of  the  afternoon  and  he  was  plainly 
^ery  nervous. 

"  What  is  the  latest  news  from  the  front?  "  she 
inquired  cheerfully. 

"  The  men  refuse  to  ride  on,"  he  exclaimed,  speak 
ing  rapidly,  making  it  still  harder  for  her  to  under 
stand.  "  Our  advance  guard  has  met  a  party  of 
hunters  from  Axphain.  They  insist  that  you  —  '  the 
fine  lady  in  the  coach  '  —  are  the  Princess  Yetive,  re 
turning  from  a  secret  visit  to  St.  Petersburg,  where 
you  went  to  plead  for  assistance  from  the  Czar." 

Beverly  Calhoun  gasped  in  astonishment.  It  was 
too  incredible  to  believe.  It  wras  actually  ludicrous, 
She  laughed  heartily.  "  How  perfectly  absurd." 

"  I  am  well  aware  that  you  are  not  the  Princess 
Yetive,"  he  continued  emphatically ;  "  but  what  can 
I  do;  the  men  won't  believe  me.  They  swear  they 
have  been  tricked  and  are  panic-stricken  over  the 
situation.  The  hunters  tell  them  that  the  Axphain 
authorities,  fully  aware  of  the  hurried  flight  of  the 
Princess  through  these  wilds,  are  preparing  to  inter- 


28          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

cept  her.  A  large  detachment  of  soldiers  are  already 
across  the  Graustark  frontier.  It  is  only  a  question 
of  time  before  the  '  red  legs  '  will  be  upon  them.  I 
have  assured  them  that  their  beautiful  charge  is  not 
the  Princess,  but  an  American  girl,  and  that  there 
is  no  mystery  about  the  coach  and  escort.  All  in 
vain.  The  Axphain  guides  already  feel  that  their 
heads  are  on  the  block ;  while  as  for  the  Cossacks,  not 
even  my  dire  threats  of  the  awful  anger  of  the  White 
Czar,  when  he  finds  they  have  disobeyed  his  com 
mands,  will  move  them." 

"  Speak  to  your  men  once  more,  sir,  and  promise 
them  big  purses  of  gold  when  we  reach  Ganlook.  I 
have  no  money  or  valuables  with  me ;  but  there  I  can 
obtain  plenty,"  said  Beverly,  shrewdly  thinking  it 
better  that  they  should  believe  her  to  be  without  funds. 

The  cavalcade  had  halted  during  this  colloquy. 
All  the  men  were  ahead  conversing  sullenly  and  ex 
citedly  with  much  gesticulation.  The  driver,  a  stolid 
creature,  seemingly  indifferent  to  all  that  was  going 
on,  alone  remained  at  his  post.  The  situation,  appar 
ently  dangerous,  was  certainly  most  annoying.  But 
^f  Beverly  could  have  read  the  mind  of  that  silent 
figure  on  the  box,  she  would  have  felt  slightly  relieved, 
for  he  was  infinitely  more  anxious  to  proceed  than  even 
she ;  but  from  far  different  reasons.  He  was  a  Rus 
sian  convict,  who  had  escaped  on  the  way  to  Siberia. 
Disguised  as  a  coachman  he  was  seeking  life  and 
safety  in  Graustark,  or  any  out-of-the-way  place.  It 
mattered  little  to  him  where  the  escort  concluded  to 


ON  THE  ROAD  FROM  BALAK   29 

go.  He  was  going  ahead.  He  dared  not  go  back  — 
he  must  go  on. 

At  the  end  of  half  an  hour,  the  officer  returned ;  all 
hope  had  gone  from  his  face.  "  It  is  useless !  "  he 
cried  out.  "  The  guides  refuse  to  proceed.  Sec ! 
They  are  going  off  with  their  countrymen !  We  are 
lost  without  them.  I  do  not  know  what  to  do.  We 
cannot  get  to  Ganlook ;  I  do  not  know  the  way,  and 
the  danger  is  great.  Ah !  Madam !  Here  they  come ! 
The  Cossacks  are  going  back." 

As  he  spoke,  the  surly  mutineers  were  riding  slowlv 
towards  the  coach.  Every  man  had  his  pistol  on 
the  high  pommel  of  the  saddle.  Their  faces  wore 
an  ugly  look.  As  they  passed  the  officer,  one  of  them, 
pointing  ahead  of  him  with  his  sword,  shouted  sav 
agely,  "  Balak !  " 

It  was  conclusive  and  convincing.  They  were  de 
serting  her. 

"  Oh,  oh,  oh !  The  cowards ! "  sobbed  Beverly 
in  rage  and  despair.  "  I  must  go  on !  Is  it  possible 
that  even  such  men  would  leave " 

She  was  interrupted  by  the  voice  of  the  officer,  who, 
raising  his  cap  to  her,  commanded  at  the  same  time 
the  driver  to  turn  his  horses  and  follow  the  escort  to 
Balak. 

"  What  is  that?  "  demanded  Beverly  in  alarm. 

From  far  off  came  the  sound  of  firearms.  A  dozen 
shots  were  fired,  and  reverberated  down  through  the 
gloomy  pass  ahead  of  the  coach. 

"  They  are  fighting  somewhere  in  the  hills  in  front 
of  us,"  answered  the  now  frightened  officer.  Turn- 


80          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

ing  quickly,  he  saw  the  deserting  horsemen  halt,  listen 
a  minute,  and  then  spur  their  horses.  He  cried  out 
sharply  to  the  driver,  "  Come,  there !  Turn  round ! 
We  have  no  time  to  lose !  " 

With  a  savage  grin,  the  hitherto  motionless  driver 
hurled  some  insulting  remark  at  the  officer,  who  was 
already  following  his  men,  now  in  full  flight  down 
the  road,  and  settling  himself  firmly  on  the  seat,  tak 
ing  a  fresh  grip  of  the  reins,  he  yelled  to  his  horses, 
at  the  same  time  lashing  them  furiously  with  his  whip, 
and  started  the  coach  ahead  at  a  fearful  pace.  His 
oruy  thought  was  to  get  away  as  far  as  possible  from 
the  Russian  officer,  then  deliberately  desert  the  coach 
and  its  occupants  and  take  to  the  hills. 


CHAPTER  IV 


THE    RAGGED    RETINUE 

HOROUGHLY  mystified  by  the  ac 
tion  of  the  driver  and  at  length  terri 
fied  by  the  pace  that  carried  them 
careening  along  the  narrow  road, 
Beverly  cried  out  to  him,  her  voice 
shrill  with  alarm.  Aunt  Fanny  was 
crouching  on  the  floor  of  the  coach,  between  the 
seats,  groaning  and  praying. 

"Stop!  Where  are  you  going?"  cried  Beverly, 
putting  her  head  recklessly  through  the  window.  If 
the  man  heard  her  he  gave  no  evidence  of  the  fact. 
His  face  was  set  forward  and  he  was  guiding  the 
horses  with  a  firm,  unquivering  hand.  The  coach 
rattled  and  bounded  along  the  dangerous  way  hewn 
in  the  side  of  the  mountain.  A  misstep  or  a  false  turn 
might  easily  start  the  clumsy  vehicle  rolling  down  the 
declivity  on  the  right.  The  convict  was  taking  des 
perate  chances,  and  with  a  cool,  calculating  brain, 
prepared  to  leap  to  the  ground  in  case  of  accident 
and  save  himself,  without  a  thought  for  the  victims 
inside. 

"  Stop !  Turn  around !  "  she  cried  in  a  frenzy. 
"  We  shall  be  killed.  Are  you  crazy?  " 

31 


32          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

By  this  time  they  had  struck  a  descent  in  the  road 
and  were  rushing  along  at  breakneck  speed  into 
oppressive  shadows  that  bore  the  first  imprints  of 
night.  Realizing  at  last  that  her  cries  were  falling 
upon  purposely  deaf  ears,  Beverly  Calhoun  sank 
back  into  the  seat,  weak  and  terror-stricken.  It  was 
plain  to  her  that  the  horses  were  not  running  away, 
for  the  man  had  been  lashing  them  furiously.  There 
was  but  one  conclusion:  he  was  deliberately  taking 
her  farther  into  the  mountain  fastnesses,  his  purpose 
known  only  to  himself.  A  hundred  terrors  presented 
themselves  to  her  as  she  lay  huddled  against  the  side 
of  the  coach,  her  eyes  closed  tightly,  her  tender  body 
tossed  furiously  about  with  the  sway  of  the  vehicle. 
There  was  the  fundamental  fear  that  she  would  be 
dashed  to  death  down  the  side  of  the  mountain,  but 
apart  from  this  her  quick  brain  was  evolving  all  sorts 
of  possible  endings  —  none  short  of  absolute  disaster. 

Even  as  she  prayed  that  something  might  inter 
vene  to  check  the  mad  rush  and  to  deliver  her  from 
the  horrors  of  the  moment,  the  raucous  voice  of  the 
driver  was  heard  calling  to  his  horses  and  the  pace 
became  slower.  The  awful  rocking  and  the  jolting 
grew  less  severe,  the  clatter  resolved  itself  into  a  broken 
rumble,  and  then  the  coach  stopped  with  a  mighty 
lurch. 

Dragging  herself  from  the  corner,  poor  Beverly 
Calhoun,  no  longer  a  disdainful  heroine,  gazed  pite- 
ously  out  into  the  shadows,  expecting  the  murderous 
blade  of  the  driver  to  meet  her  as  she  did  so.  Pauloff 
had  swung  from  the  box  of  the  coach  and  was  peer- 


THE    RAGGED    RETINUE  33 

ing  first  into  the  woodland  below  and  then  upon  the 
rocks  to  the  left.  He  wore  the  expression  of  a  man 
trapped  and  seeking  means  of  escape.  Suddenly  he 
darted  behind  the  coach,  almost  brushing  against 
Beverly's  hat  as  he  passed  the  window.  She  opened 
her  lips  to  call  to  him,  but  even  as  she  did  so  he 
took  to  his  heels  and  raced  back  over  the  road  they 
had  traveled  so  precipitously. 

Overcome  by  surprise  and  dismay,  she  only  could 
watch  the  flight  in  silence.  Less  than  a  hundred  feet 
from  where  the  coach  was  standing  he  turned  to  the 
right  and  was  lost  among  the  rocks.  Ahead,  four 
horses,  covered  with  sweat,  were  panting  and  heaving 
as  if  in  great  distress  after  their  mad  run.  Aunt 
Fanny  was  still  moaning  and  praying  by  turns  in 
the  bottom  of  the  carriage.  Darkness  was  settling 
down  upon  the  pass,  and  objects  a  hundred  yards 
away  were  swallowed  by  the  gloom.  There  was  no 
sound  save  the  blowing  of  the  tired  animals  and  the 
moaning  of  the  old  negress.  Beverly  realized  with  a 
sinking  heart  that  they  were  alone  and  helpless  in  the 
mountains  with  night  upon  them. 

She  never  knew  where  .the  strength  and  courage 
came  from,  but  she  forced  open  the  stubborn  coach- 
door  and  scrambled  to  the  ground,  looking  frantically 
in  all  directions  for  a  single  sign  of  hope.  In  the 
most  despairing  terror  she  had  ever  experienced,  she 
started  toward  the  lead  horses,  hoping  against  hope 
that  at  least  one  of  her  men  had  remained  faithful. 

A  man  stepped  quietly  from  the  inner  side  of  the 
road  and  advanced  with  the  uncertain  tread  of  one 


34 

who  is  overcome  by  amazement.  He  was  a  stranger, 
and  wore  an  odd,  uncouth  garb.  The  failing  light 
told  her  that  he  was  not  one  of  her  late  protectors. 
She  shrank  back  with  a  faint  cry  of  alarm,  ready  to 
fly  to  the  protecting  arms  of  hopeless  Aunt  Fanny  if 
her  uncertain  legs  could  carry  her.  At  the  same  in 
stant  another  ragged  stranger,  then  two,  three,  four, 
or  five,  appeared  as  if  by  magic,  some  near  her,  others 
approaching  from  the  shadows. 

"  Who  —  who  in  heaven's  name  are  you  ?  "  she 
faltered.  The  sound  of  her  own  voice  in  a  measure 
restored  the  courage  that  had  been  paralyzed.  Un 
consciously  this  slim  sprig  of  southern  valor  threw 
back  her  shoulders  and  lifted  her  chin.  If  they  were 
brigands  they  should  not  find  her  a  cringing  coward. 
After  all,  she  was  a  Calhoun. 

The  man  she  had  first  observed  stopped  near  the 
horses'  heads  and  peered  intently  at  her  from  beneath 
a  broad  and  rakish  hat.  He  was  tall  and  appeared 
to  be  more  respectably  clad  than  his  fellows,  although 
there  was  not  one  who  looked  as  though  he  possessed 
a  complete  outfit  of  wearing  apparel. 

"  Poor  wayfarers,  may  it  please  your  highness,"  re 
plied  the  tall  vagabond,  bowing  low.  To  her  surprise 
he  spoke  in  very  good  English;  his  voice  was  clear, 
and  there  was  a  tinge  of  polite  irony  in  the  tones* 
"  But  all  people  are  alike  in  the  mountains.  The 
king  and  the  thief,  the  princess  and  the  jade  live  in 
the  common  fold,"  and  his  hat  swung  so  low  that  it 
touched  the  ground. 

"  I    am   powerless.     I   only    implore   you   to   take, 


'•\Yho — who    in    heaven's    n;une    are    you ': "    she 
faltered. 


what  valuables  you  may  find  and  let  us  proceed  un 
harmed —  '  she  cried,  rapidly,  eager  to  have  it 
over. 

"  Pray,  how  can  your  highness  proceed?  You 
have  no  guide,  no  driver,  no  escort,"  said  the  man, 
mockingly.  Beverly  looked  at  him  appealingly, 
utterly  without  words  to  reply.  The  tears  were  well 
ing  to  her  eyes  and  her  heart  was  throbbing  like  that 
of  a  captured  bird.  In  after  life  she  was  able  to 
picture  in  her  mind's  eye  all  the  details  of  that  tab 
leau  in  the  mountain  pass  —  the  hopeless  coach,  the 
steaming  horses,  the  rakish  bandit,  and  his  picturesque 
men,  the  towering  crags,  and  a  mite  of  a  girl  facing 
the  end  of  everything. 

"  Your  highness  is  said  to  be  brave,  but  even  your 
wonderful  courage  can  avail  nothing  in  this  in 
stance,"  said  the  leader,  pleasantly.  "  Your  escort 
has  fled  as  though  pursued  by  something  stronger 
than  shadows;  your  driver  has  deserted;  your  horses 
are  half-dead ;  you  are  indeed,  as  you  have  said,  pow 
erless.  And  you  are,  besides  all  these,  in  the  clutches 
of  a  band  of  merciless  cutthroats." 

"  Oh,"  moaned  Beverly,  suddenly  leaning  against 
the  fore  wheel,  her  eyes  almost  starting  from  her  head. 
The  leader  laughed  quietly  —  yes,  good-naturedly. 
"  Oh,  you  won't  —  you  won't  kill  us  ?  "  She  had  time 
to  observe  that  there  were  smiles  on  the  faces  of  all  the 
men  within  the  circle  of  light. 

"  Rest  assured,  your  highness,"  said  the  leader, 
leaning  upon  his  rifle-barrel  with  careless  grace,  "  we 
intend  no  harm  to  you.  Every  man  you  meet  in 


36         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Graustark  is  not  a  brigand,  I  trust,  for  your  sake* 
We  are  simple  hunters,  and  not  what  we  may  seem. 
It  is  fortunate  that  you  have  fallen  into  honest  hands. 
There  is  someone  in  the  coach?"  he  asked,  quickly 
alert.  A  prolonged  groan  proved  to  Beverly  that 
Aunt  Fanny  had  screwed  up  sufficient  courage  to  look 
out  of  the  window. 

"  My  old  servant,"  she  half  whispered.  Then,  as 
several  of  the  men  started  toward  the  door :  "  But 
she  is  old  and  wouldn't  harm  a  fly.  Please,  please 
don't  hurt  her." 

"  Compose  yourself ;  she  is  safe,"  said  the  leader. 
By  this  time  it  was  quite  dark.  At  a  word  from 
him  two  or  three  men  lighted  lanterns.  The  pic 
ture  was  more  weird  than  ever  in  the  fitful  glow. 
"  May  I  ask,  your  highness,  how  do  you  intend  to 
reach  Edelweiss  in  your  present  condition.  You 
cannot  manage  those  horses,  and  besides,  you  do  not 
know  the  way." 

"  Aren't  you  going  to  rob  us?  "  demanded  Beverly, 
hope  springing  to  the  surface  with  a  joyful  bound. 
The  stranger  laughed  heartily,  and  shook  his  head. 

"  Do  we  not  look  like  honest  men?  "  he  cried,  with 
a  wave  of  his  hand  toward  his  companions.  Beverly 
looked  dubious.  "  We  live  the  good,  clean  life  of 
the  wilderness.  Out-door  life  is  necessary  for  our 
health.  We  could  not  live  in  the  city,"  he  went  on 
with  grim  humor.  For  the  first  time,  Beverly  noticed 
that  he  wore  a  huge  black  patch  over  his  left  eye,  held 
in  place  by  a  cord.  He  appeared  more  formidable 
than  ever  under  the  light  of  critical  inspection. 


THE    RAGGED    RETINUE  37 

"  I  am  very  much  relieved,"  said  Beverly,  who  was 
not  at  all  relieved.  "  But  why  have  you  stopped  us 
in  this  manner  ?  " 

"  Stopped  you  ?  "  cried  the  man  with  the  patch. 
"  I  implore  you  to  unsay  that,  your  highness.  Your 
coach  was  quite  at  a  standstill  before  we  knew  of  its 
presence.  You  do  us  a  grave  injustice." 

"  It's  very  strange,"  muttered  Beverly,  somewhat 
taken  aback. 

"  Have  you  observed  that  it  is  quite  dark?  "  asked 
the  leader,  putting  away  his  brief  show  of  indignation. 

"  Dear  me ;  so  it  is ! "  cried  she,  now  able  to  think 
more  clearly. 

"  And  you  are  miles  from  an  inn«  or  house  of  any 
kind,"  he  went  on.  "  Do  you  expect  to  stay  here 
all  night?" 

"  I'm  —  I'm  not  afraid,"  bravely  shivered  Beverly. 

"  It  is  most  dangerous." 

"  I  have  a  revolver,"  the  weak  little  voice  went  on. 

"Oho!     What  is  it  for?" 

"  To  use  in  case  of  emergency." 

"  Such  as  repelling  brigands  who  suddenly  appear 
upon  the  scene?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  May  I  ask  why  you  did  not  use  it  this  evening?  " 

"  Because  it  is  locked  up  in  one  of  my  bags  —  I 
don't  know  just  which  one  —  and  Aunt  Fanny  has 
the  key,"  confessed  Beverly. 

The  chief  of  the  "  honest  men  "  laughed  again,  a 
clear,  ringing  laugh  that  bespoke  supreme  confidence 
in  his  right  to  enjoy  himself. 


38          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  And  who  is  Aunt  Fanny  ?  "  he  asked,  covering 
his  patch  carefully  with  his  slouching  hat. 

"  My  servant.     She's  colored." 

"Colored?"  he  asked  in  amazement.  "What  do 
you  mean?  " 

"  Why,  she's  a  negress.  Don't  you  know  what  a 
colored  person  is  ?  " 

"  You  mean  she  is  a  slave  —  a  black  slave?  " 

"We  don't  own  slaves  any  mo'  —  more."  He 
looked  more  puzzled  than  ever  —  then  at  last,  to  sat 
isfy  himself,  walked  over  and  peered  into  the  coach. 
Aunt  Fanny  set  up  a  dismal  howl ;  an  instant  later  Sir 
Honesty  was  pushed  aside,  and  Miss  Calhoim  Avas 
anxiously  trying  to  comfort  her  old  friend  through 
the  window.  The  man  looked  on  in  silent  wonder  for 
a  minute,  and  then  strode  off  to  where  a  group  of  his 
men  stood  talking. 

"  Is  yo'  daid  yit,  Miss  Bev'ly  —  is  de  end  came?  " 
moaned  Aunt  Fanny.  Beverly  could  not  repress  a 
smile. 

"  I  am  quite  alive,  Auntie.  These  men  will  not 
hurt  us.  They  are  very  nice  gentlemen."  She 
uttered  the  last  observation  in  a  loud  voice  and  it  had 
its  effect,  for  the  leader  came  to  her  side  with  long 
strides. 

"  Convince  your  servant  that  we  mean  no  harm, 
your  highness,"  he  said  eagerly,  a  new  deference  in 
his  voice  and  manner.  "  We  have  only  the  best  of 
motives  in  mind.  True,  the  hills  are  full  of  lawless 
fellows  and  we  are  obliged  to  fight  them  almost  daily, 
but  you  have  fallen  in  with  honest  men  —  very  nice 


THE    RAGGED    RETINUE  39 

gentlemen,  I  trust.  Less  than  an  hour  ago  we  put  a 
band  of  robbers  to  flight  — 

"  I  heard  the  shooting,"  cried  Beverly.  "  It  was 
that  which  put  my  escort  to  flight." 

"  They  could  not  have  been  soldiers  of  Graustark, 
then,  your  highness,"  quite  gallantly. 

"  They  were  Cossacks,  or  whatever  you  call  them. 
But,  pray,  why  do  you  call  me  '  your  highness  '  ?  " 
demanded  Beverly.  The  tall  leader  swept  the  ground 
with  his  hat  once  more. 

"  All  the  outside  world  knows  the  Princess  Yetive  — • 
why  not  the  humble  mountain  man  ?  You  will  pardon 
me,  but  every  man  in  the  hills  knows  that  you  are 
to  pass  through  on  the  way  from  St.  Petersburg  to 
Ganlook.  We  are  not  so  far  from  the  world,  after 
all,  we  rough  people  of  the  hills.  We  know  that  your 
highness  left  St.  Petersburg  by  rail  last  Sunday  and 
took  to  the  highway  day  before  yesterday,  because  the 
floods  had  washed  away  the  bridges  north  of  Axphain. 
Even  the  hills  have  eyes  and  ears." 

Beverly  listened  with  increasing  perplexity.  It 
was  true  that  she  had  left  St.  Petersburg  on  Sunday ; 
that  the  unprecedented  floods  had  stopped  all  railway 
traffic  in  the  hills,  compelling  her  to  travel  for  many 
miles  by  stage,  and  that  the  whole  country  was  con 
fusing  her  in  some  strange  way  with  the  Princess 
Yetive.  The  news  had  evidently  sped  through 
Axphain  and  the  hills  with  the  swiftness  of  fire.  It 
would  be  useless  to  deny  the  story ;  these  men  would 
not  believe  her.  In  a  flash  she  decided  that  it  would 
be  best  to  pose  for  the  time  being  as  the  ruler  of 


40         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Graustark.  It  remained  only  for  her  to  impress  upon 
Aunt  Fanny  the  importance  of  this  resolution. 

"  What  wise  old  hills  they  must  be,"  she  said,  with 
evasive  enthusiasm.  "  You  cannot  expect  me  to 
admit,  however,  that  I  am  the  princess,"  she  went  on. 

"  It  would  not  be  just  to  your  excellent  reputa 
tion  for  tact  if  you  did  so,  your  highness,"  calmly 
spoke  the  man.  "  It  is  quite  as  easy  to  say  that  you 
are  not  the  princess  as  to  say  that  you  are,  so  what 
matters,  after  all?  We  reserve  the  right,  however, 
to  do  homage  to  the  queen  who  rules  over  these  wise 
old  hills.  I  offer  you  the  humble  services  of  myself 
and  my  companions.  We  are  yours  to  command." 

"  I  am  very  grateful  to  find  that  you  are  not  brig 
ands,  believe  me,"  said  Beverly.  "  Pray  tell  me 
who  you  are,  then,  and  you  shall  be  sufficiently  re 
warded  for  your  good  intentions." 

"I?  Oh,  your  highness,  I  am  Baldos,  the  goat- 
hunter,  a  poor  subject  for  reward  at  your  hands.  I 
may  as  well  admit  that  I  am  a  poacher,  and  have  no 
legal  right  to  the  prosperity  of  your  hills.  The  only 
reward  I  can  ask  is  forgiveness  for  trespassing  upon 
the  property  of  others." 

"  You  shall  receive  pardon  for  all  transgressions. 
But  you  must  get  me  to  some  place  of  safety,"  said 
Beverly,  eagerly. 

"  And  quickly,  too,  you  might  well  have  added," 
he  said,  lightly.  "  The  horses  have  rested,  I  think, 
so  with  your  permission  we  may  proceed.  I  know  of 
a  place  where  you  may  spend  the  night  comfortably 
and  be  refreshed  for  the  rough  journey  to-morrow." 


THE    RAGGED    RETINUE  41 

"To-morrow?  How  can  I  go  on?  I  am  alone," 
she  cried,  despairingly. 

"  Permit  me  to  remind  you  that  you  are  no  longer 
alone.  You  have  a  ragged  following,  your  highness, 
but  it  shall  be  a  loyal  one.  Will  you  re-enter  the 
coach?  It  is  not  far  to  the  place  I  speak  of,  and  I 
myself  will  drive  you  there.  Come,  it  is  getting  late, 
and  your  retinue,  at  least,  is  hungry." 

He  flung  open  the  coach  door,  and  his  hat  swept 
the  ground  once  more.  The  light  of  a  lantern  played 
fitfully  upon  his  dark,  gaunt  face,  with  its  gallant 
smile  and  ominous  patch.  She  hesitated,  fear  entering 
her  soul  once  more.  He  looked  up  quickly  and  saw  the 
indecision  in  her  eyes,  the  mute  appeal. 

"  Trust  me,  your  highness,"  he  said,  gravely,  and 
she  allowed  him  to  hand  her  into  the  coach. 

A  moment  later  he  was  upon  the  driver's  box,  reins 
in  hand.  Calling  out  to  his  companions  in  a  lan 
guage  strange  to  Beverly,  he  cracked  the  whip,  and 
once  more  they  were  lumbering  over  the  wretched 
road.  Beverly  sank  back  into  the  seat  with  a  deep 
sigh  of  resignation. 

"  Well,  I'm  in  for  it,"  she  thought.  "  It  doesn't 
matter  whether  they  are  thieves  or  angels,  I  reckon 
I'll  have  to  take  what  comes.  He  doesn't  look  very 
much  like  an  angel,  but  he  looked  at  me  just  now  as  if 
he  thought  I  were  one.  Dear  me,  I  wish  I  were  back 
in  Washin'ton ! " 


CHAPTER  V 


THE  INN  OF  THE  HAWK  AND  RAVEN 

WO  of  the  men  walked  close  beside  the 
door,  one  of  them  bearing  a  lantern. 
They  conversed  in  low  tones  and  in  a 
language  which  Beverly  could  not 
understand.  After  awhile  she  found 
herself  analyzing  the  garb  and  manner 
of  the  men.  She  was  saying  to  herself  that  here  were 
her  first  real  specimens  of  Graustark  peasantry,  and 
they  were  to  mark  an  ineffaceable  spot  in  her  memory. 
They  were  dark,  strong-faced  men  of  medium  height, 
with  fierce,  black  eyes  and  long  black  hair.  As  no  two 
were  dressed  alike,  it  was  impossible  to  recognize 
characteristic  styles  of  attire.  Some  were  in  the  rude, 
baggy  costumes  of  the  peasant  as  she  had  imagined 
him ;  others  were  dressed  in  the  tight-fitting  but  dilap 
idated  uniforms  of  the  soldiery,  while  several  were  in 
clothes  partly  European  and  partly  Oriental.  There 
were  hats  and  fezzcs  and  caps,  some  with  feathers  in 
the  bands,  others  without.  The  man  nearest  the  coach 
wore  the  dirty  gray  uniform  of  an  army  officer, 
full  of  holes  and  rents,  while  another  strode  along  in  a 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN    43 

pair  of  baggy  yellow  trousers  and  a  dusty  London 
dinner  jacket.  All  in  all,  it  was  the  motliest  band  of 
vagabonds  she  had  ever  seen.  There  were  at  least 
ten  or  a  dozen  in  the  party.  While  a  few  carried 
swords,  all  lugged  the  long  rifles  and  crooked  daggers 
of  the  Tartars. 

"  Aunt  Fanny,"  Beverly  whispered,  suddenly  mov 
ing  to  the  side  of  the  subdued  servant,  "  where  is  my 
revolver?  "  It  had  come  to  her  like  a  flash  that  a 
subsequent  emergency  should  not  find  her  unpre 
pared.  Aunt  Fanny's  j  aw  dropped,  and  her  eyes  were 
like  white  rings  in  a  black  screen. 

"  Good  Lawd  —  wha  —  what  f  o',  Miss  Bev'ly  - 

"  Sh!  Don't  call  me  Miss  Bev'ly.  Now,  just  you 
pay  'tention  to  me  and  I'll  tell  you  something  queer. 
Get  my  revolver  right  away,  and  don't  let  those  men 
see  what  you  are  doing."  While  Aunt  Fanny's  trem 
bling  fingers  went  in  search  of  the  firearm,  Beverly 
outlined  the  situation  briefly  but  explicitly.  The  old 
woman  was  not  slow  to  understand.  Her  wits  sharp 
ened  by  fear,  she  grasped  Beverly's  instructions  with 
astonishing  avidity. 

"  Ve'y  well,  yo'  highness,"  she  said  with  fine  rever 
ence,  "  Ah'll  p'ocuah  de  bottle  o'  pepp'mint  fo'  yo' 
if  yo'  jcs  don'  mine  me  pullin'  an'  haulin'  'mongst  dese 
boxes.  Mebbe  yo'  all  'druther  hab  de  gingeh? " 
With  this  wonderful  subterfuge  as  a  shield  she  dug 
slyly  into  one  of  the  bags  and  pulled  forth  a  revolver. 
Under  ordinary  circumstances  she  would '  have  been 
mortally  afraid  to  touch  it,  but  not  so  in  this  emer- 


44          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

gency.  Beverly  shoved  the  weapon  into  the  pocket 
of  her  gray  traveling  jacket. 

"  I  feel  much  better  now,  Aunt  Fanny,"  she  said, 
and  Aunt  Fanny  gave  a  vast  chuckle. 

"  Yas,  ma'am,  indeed, —  yo'  highness,"  she  agreed, 
suavely. 

The  coach  rolled  along  for  half  an  hour,  and  then 
stopped  with  a  sudden  jolt.  An  instant  later  the 
tall  driver  appeared  at  the  window,  his  head  uncov 
ered.  A  man  hard  by  held  a  lantern. 

"  Qua  vandos  ar  deltanet,  yos  serent,"  said  the 
leader,  showing  his  white  teeth  in  a  triumphant  smile. 
His  exposed  eye  seemed  to  be  glowing  with  pleasure 
and  excitement. 

"  What?  "  murmured  Beverly,  hopelessly.  A  puz 
zled  expression  came  into  his  face.  Then  his  smile 
deepened  and  his  eye  took  on  a  knowing  gleam. 

"  Ah,  I  see,"  he  said,  gaily,  "  your  highness  prefers 
not  to  speak  the  language  of  Graustark.  Is  it  neces 
sary  for  me  to  repeat  in  English  ?  " 

"  I  really  wish  you  would,"  said  Beverly,  catching 
her  breath.  "  Just  to  see  how  it  sounds,  you  know." 

"  Your  every  wish  shall  be  gratified.  I  beg  to  in 
form  you  that  we  have  reached  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk 
and  Raven.  This  is  where  we  dwelt  last  night.  To 
morrow  we,  too,  abandon  the  place,  so  our  fortunes 
may  run  together  for  some  hours,  at  least.  There 
is  but  little  to  offer  you  in  the  way  of  nourishment, 
and  there  are  none  of  the  comforts  of  a  palace.  Yet 
princesses  can  no  more  be  choosers  than  beggars  when 
the  fare's  in  one  pot.  Come,  your  highness,  let  me 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN     45 

conduct  you  to  the  guest  chamber  of  the  Inn  of  the 
Hawk  and  Raven." 

Beverly  took  his  hand  and  stepped  to  the  ground, 
looking  about  in  wonder  and  perplexity. 

"  I  see  no  inn,"  she  murmured  apprehensively. 

"  Look  aloft,  your  highness.  That  great  black 
canopy  is  the  roof;  we  are  standing  upon  the  floor, 
and  the  dark  shadows  just  beyond  the  circle  of  light 
are  the  walls  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven.  This  is  the 
largest  tavern  in  all  Graustark.  Its  dimensions  are 
as  wide  as  the  world  itself." 

"  You  mean  that  there  is  no  inn  at  all  ?  "  the  girl 
cried  in  dismay. 

"  Alas,  I  must  confess  it.  And  yet  there  is  shel 
ter  here.  Come  with  me.  Let  your  servant  follow." 
He  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  led  her  away  from  the 
coach,  a  ragged  lantern-bearer  preceding.  Beverly's 
little  right  hand  was  rigidly  clutching  the  revolver 
in  her  pocket.  It  was  a  capacious  pocket,  and  the 
muzzle  of  the  weapon  bored  defiantly  into  a  timid 
powder-rag  that  lay  on  the  bottom.  The  little  leather 
purse  from  which  it  escaped  had  its  silver  lips  opened 
as  if  in  a  broad  grin  of  derision,  reveling  in  the  plight 
of  the  chamois.  The  guide's  hand  was  at  once  firm 
and  gentle,  his  stride  bold,  yet  easy.  His  rakish  hat, 
with  its  aggressive  red  feather,  towered  a  full  head 
above  Beverly's  Parisian  violets. 

"  Have  you  no  home  at  all  —  no  house  in  which  to 
sleep?  "  Beverly  managed  to  ask. 

"  I  live  in  a  castle  of  air,"  said  he,  waving  his  hand 
gracefully.  "  I  sleep  in  the  house  of  my  fathers." 


46         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  You  poor  fellow,"  cried  Beverly,  pityingly.  He 
laughed  and  absently  patted  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

She  heard  the  men  behind  them  turning  the  coach 
into  the  glen  through  which  they  walked  carefully. 
Her  feet  fell  upon  a  soft,  grassy  sward  and  the  clat 
ter  of  stones  was  now  no  longer  heard.  They  were 
among  the  shadowy  trees,  gaunt  trunks  of  enormous 
size  looming  up  in  the  light  of  the  lanterns.  Uncon 
sciously  her  thoughts  went  over  to  the  Forest  of 
Arden  and  the  woodland  home  of  Rosalind,  as  she 
had  imagined  it  to  be.  Soon  there  came  to  her  ears 
the  swish  of  waters,  as  of  some  turbulent  river  hurry 
ing  by.  Instinctively  she  drew  back  and  her  eyes  were 
set  with  alarm  upon  the  black  wall  of  night  ahead. 
Yetive  had  spoken  more  than  once  of  this  wilderness. 
Many  an  unlucky  traveler  had  been  lost  forever  in  its 
fastnesses. 

"  It  is  the  river,  your  highness.  There  is  no  dan 
ger.  I  will  not  lead  you  into  it,"  he  said,  a  trifle 
roughly.  "  We  are  low  in  the  valley  and  there  are 
marshes  yonder  when  the  river  is  in  its  natural  bed. 
The  floods  have  covered  the  low  grounds,  and  there 
is  a  torrent  coming  down  from  the  hills.  Here  we 
are,  your  highness.  This  is  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and 
Raven." 

He  bowed  and  pointed  with  his  hat  to  the  smoulder 
ing  fire  a  short  distance  ahead.  They  had  turned 
a  bend  in  the  overhanging  cliff,  and  were  very  close 
to  the  retreat  before  she  saw  the  glow. 

The  fire  was  in  the  open  air  and  directly  in  front 
of  a  deep  cleft  in  the  rocky  background.  Judging 


by  the  sound,  the  river  could  not  be  more  than  two 
hundred  feet  away.  Men  came  up  with  lanterns  and 
others  piled  brush  upon  the  fire.  In  a  very  short 
time  the  glen  was  weirdly  illuminated  by  the  dancing 
flames.  From  her  seat  on  a  huge  log,  Beverly  was 
thus  enabled  to  survey  a  portion  of  her  surroundings. 
The  overhanging  ledge  of  rock  formed  a  wide,  deep 
canopy,  underneath  which  was  perfect  shelter.  The 
floor  seemed  to  be  rich,  grassless  loam,  and  here  and 
there  were  pallets  of  long  grass,  evidently  the  couches 
of  these  homeless  men.  All  about  were  huge  trees, 
and  in  the  direction  of  the  river  the  grass  grew  higher 
and  then  gave  place  to  reeds.  The  foliage  above  was 
so  dense  that  the  moon  and  stars  were  invisible.  There 
was  a  deathly  stillness  in  the  air.  The  very  loneliness 
was  so  appalling  that  Beverly's  poor  little  heart  was 
in  a  quiver  of  dread.  Aunt  Fanny,  who  sat  near  by, 
had  not  spoken  since  leaving  the  coach,  but  her  eyes 
were  expressively  active. 

The  tall  leader  stood  near  the  fire,  conversing  with 
half  a  dozen  of  his  followers.  Miss  Calhoun's  eyes 
finally  rested  upon  this  central  figure  in  the  strange 
picture.  He  was  attired  in  a  dark-gray  uniform 
that  reminded  her  oddly  of  the  dragoon  choruses 
in  the  comic  operas  at  home.  The  garments,  while 
torn  and  soiled,  were  well-fitting.  His  shoulders  were 
broad  and  square,  his  hips  narrow,  his  legs  long  and 
straight.  There  was  an  air  of  impudent  grace  about 
him  that  went  well  with  his  life  and  profession. 
Surely,  here  was  a  careless  freelance  upon  whom  life 
weighed  lightly,  while  death  "  stood  afar  off  "  and 


48          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

despaired.  The  light  of  the  fire  brought  his  gleaming 
face  into  bold  relief,  for  his  hat  was  off.  Black  and 
thick  was  his  hair,  rumpled  and  apparently  uncarcd 
for.  The  face  was  lean,  smooth  and  strong,  with  a 
devil-may-care  curve  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth. 
Beverly  found  herself  lamenting  the  fact  that  such  an 
interesting  face  should  be  marred  by  an  ugly  black 
patch,  covering  she  knew  not  what  manner  of  defect. 
As  for  the  rest  of  them,  they  were  a  grim  company. 
Some  were  young  and  beardless,  others  were  old  and 
grizzly,  but  all  were  active,  alert  and  strong.  The 
leader  appeared  to  be  the  only  one  in  the  party  who 
could  speak  and  understand  the  English  language. 
As  Beverly  sat  and  watched  his  virile,  mocking  face, 
and  studied  his  graceful  movements,  she  found  herself 
wondering  how  an  ignorant,  homeless  wanderer  in  the 
hills  could  be  so  poetic  and  so  cultured  as  this  fellow 
seemed  to  be. 

Three  or  four  men,  who  were  unmistakably  of  a 
lower  order  than  their  companions,  set  about  prepar 
ing  a  supper.  Others  unhitched  the  tired  horses  and 
led  them  off  toward  the  river.  Two  dashing  young 
fellows  carried  the  seat-cushions  under  the  rocky  can 
opy  and  constructed  an  elaborate  couch  for  the 
"  Princess."  The  chief,  with  his  own  hands,  soon  be 
gan  the  construction  of  a  small  chamber  in  this  par 
ticular  corner  of  the  cave,  near  the  opening.  The 
walls  of  the  chamber  were  formed  of  carriage  robes 
and  blankets,  cloaks  and  oak  branches. 

"  The  guest  chamber,  your  highness,"  he  said,  ap- 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN   4*9 

preaching  her  with  a  smile  at  the  conclusion  of  his 
work. 

"  It  has  been  most  interesting  to  watch  you,"  she 
said,  rising. 

"  And  it  has  been  a  delight  to  interest  you,"  he 
responded.  "  You  will  find  seclusion  there,  and  you 
need  see  none  of  us  until  it  pleases  you." 

She  looked  him  fairly  in  the  eye  for  a  moment,  and 
then  impulsively  extended  her  hand.  He  clasped  it 
rarmly,  but  not  without  some  show  of  surprise. 

"  I  am  trusting  you  implicitly,"  she  said. 

"  The  knave  is  glorified,"  was  his  simple  rejoinder. 
He  conducted  her  to  the  improvised  bed-chamber, 
Aunt  Fanny  following  with  loyal  but  uncertain  tread. 
"  I  regret,  your  highness,  that  the  conveniences  are 
so  few.  We  have  no  landlady  except  Mother  Earth, 
no  waiters,  no  porters,  no  maids,  in  the  Inn  of  the 
Hawk  and  Raven.  This  being  a  men's  hotel,  the 
baths  are  on  the  river-front.  I  am  having  water 
brought  to  your  apartments,  however,  but  it  is  with 
deepest  shame  and  sorrow  that  I  confess  we  have  no 
towels." 

She  laughed  so  heartily  that  his  face  brightened 
perceptibly,  whilst  the  faces  of  his  men  turned  in  their 
direction  as  though  by  concert. 

"  It  is  a  typical  mountain  resort,  then,"  she  said. 
"  I  think  I  can  manage  very  well  if  you  will  fetch  my 
bags  to  my  room,  sir." 

"  By  the  way,  will  you  have  dinner  served  in  your 
room  ?  "  very  good-humoredly. 

"  If  you  don't  mind,  I'd  like  to  eat  in  the  public 


50          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

dining-room,"  said  she.  A  few  minutes  later  Beverly 
was  sitting  upon  one  of  her  small  trunks  and  Aunt 
Fanny  was  laboriously  brushing  her  dark  hair. 

"  It's  very  j  oily  being  a  princess,"  murmured  Miss 
Calhoun.  She  had  bathed  her  face  in  one  of  the 
leather  buckets  from  the  coach,  and  the  dust  of  the 
road  had  been  brushed  away  by  the  vigorous  lady- 
in-waiting. 

"  Yas,  ma'am,  Miss  —  yo'  highness,  hit's  mon 
strous  fine  fo'  yo',  but  whar  is  Ah  goin'  to  sleep?  Out 
yondah,  wif  all  dose  scalawags?"  said  Aunt  Fanny, 
rebelliously. 

"  You  shall  have  a  bed  in  here,  Aunt  Fanny,"  said 
Beverly. 

"  Dey's  de  queeres'  lot  o'  tramps  Ah  eveh  did  see, 
an'  Ah  wouldn'  trust  'em  's  fer  as  Ah  could  heave  a 
brick  house." 

"  But  the  leader  is  such  a  very  courteous  gentle 
man,"  remonstrated  Beverly. 

"  Yas,  ma'am ;  he  mussa  came  f 'm  Gawgia  or  Kain- 
tuck,"  was  Aunt  Fanny's  sincere  compliment. 

The  pseudo-princess  dined  with  the  vagabonds  that 
night.  She  sat  on  the  log  beside  the  tall  leader,  and 
ate  heartily  of  the  broth  and  broiled  goatmeat,  the 
grapes  and  the  nuts,  and  drank  of  the  spring  water 
which  took  the  place  of  wine  and  coffee  and  cordial. 
It  was  a  strange  supper  amid  strange  environments, 
but  she  enjoyed  it  as  she  had  never  before  enjoyed  a 
meal.  The  aii  was  full  of  romance  and  danger,  and 
her  imagination  was  enthralled.  Everything  was  so 
new  and  unreal  that  she  scarcely  could  believe  herself 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN    51 

awake.  The  world  seemed  to  have  gone  back  to  the 
days  of  Robin  Hood  and  his  merry  men. 

"  You  fare  well  at  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven," 
she  said  to  him,  her  voice  tremulous  with  excitement. 
He  looked  mournfully  at  her  for  a  moment  and  then 
smiled  naively. 

"  It  is  the  first  wholesome  meal  we  have  had  in  two 
days,"  he  replied. 

"  You  don't  mean  it !  " 

"  Yes.  We  were  lucky  with  the  guns  to-day.  Fate 
was  kind  to  us  — -  and  to  you,  for  we  are  better  pre 
pared  to  entertain  royalty  to-day  than  at  any  time 
since  I  have  been  in  the  hills  of  Graustark." 

"  Then  you  have  not  always  lived  in  Graustark?  " 

"  Alas,  no,  your  highness.     I  have  lived  elsewhere." 

"  But  you  were  born  in  the  principality  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  subject  of  its  princess  in  heart  from  this 
day  forth,  but  not  by  birth  or  condition.  I  am  a 
native  of  the  vast  domain  known  to  a  few  of  us  as 
Circumstance,"  and  he  smiled  rather  recklessly. 

"  You  are  a  poet,  a  delicious  poet,"  cried  Beverly, 
forgetting  herself  in  her  enthusiasm. 

"  Perhaps  that  is  why  I  am  hungry  and  unshorn. 
It  had  not  occurred  to  me  in  that  light.  When  you 
are  ready  to  retire,  your  highness,"  he  said,  abruptly 
rising,  "  we  shall  be  pleased  to  consider  the  Inn  of 
the  Hawk  and  Raven  closed  for  the  night.  Having 
feasted  well,  we  should  sleep  well.  We  have  a  hard 
day  before  us.  With  your  consent,  I  shall  place  my 
couch  of  grass  near  your  door.  I  am  the  porter. 
You  have  but  to  call  if  anything  is  desired." 


52          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

She  was  tired,  but  she  would  have  sat  up  all  night 
rather  than  miss  any  of  the  strange  romance  that 
had  been  thrust  upon  her.  But  Sir  Red-feather's 
suggestion  savored  of  a  command  and  she  reluctantly 
made  her  way  to  the  flapping  blanket  that  marked  the 
entrance  to  the  bed-chamber.  He  drew  the  curtain 
aside,  swung  his  hat  low  and  muttered  a  soft  good 
night. 

"  May  your  highness's  dreams  be  pleasant  ones ! " 
he  said. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  she,  and  the  curtain  dropped 
impertinently.  "  That  was  very  cool  of  him,  I  must 
say,"  she  added,  as  she  looked  at  the  wavering  door. 

When  she  went  to  sleep,  she  never  knew ;  she  was 
certain  that  her  eyes  were  rebellious  for  a  long  time 
and  that  she  wondered  how  her  gray  dress  would  look 
after  she  had  slept  in  it  all  night.  She  heard  low 
singing  as  if  in  the  distance,  but  after  a  while  the 
stillness  became  so  intense  that  its  pressure  almost 
suffocated  her.  The  rush  of  the  river  grew  louder 
and  louder  and  there  was  a  swishing  sound  that  died 
in  her  ears  almost  as  she  wondered  what  it  meant.  Her 
last  waking  thoughts  were  of  the  "  black-patch  "  poet. 
Was  he  lying  near  the  door  ? 

She  was  awakened  in  the  middle  of  the  night  by  the 
violent  flapping  of  her  chamber  door.  Startled,  she 
sat  bolt  upright  and  strained  her  eyes  to  pierce  the 
mysterious  darkness.  Aunt  Fanny,  on  her  bed  of 
grass,  stirred  convulsively,  but  did  not  awake.  The 
blackness  of  the  strange  chamber  was  broken  ever 
and  anon  by  faint  flashes  of  light  from  without,  and 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN     53 

she  lived  through  long  minutes  of  terror  before  it 
dawned  upon  her  that  a  thunderstorm  was  brewing. 
The  wind  wras  rising,  and  the  night  seemed  agog  with 
excitement.  Beverly  crept  from  her  couch  and  felt 
her  way  to  the  fluttering  doorway.  Drawing  aside 
the  blanket  she  peered  forth  into  the  night,  her  heart 
jumping  with  terror.  Her  highness  was  very  much 
afraid  of  thunder  and  lightning. 

The  fire  in  the  open  had  died  down  until  naught 
remained  but  a  few  glowing  embers.  These  were 
blown  into  brilliancy  by  the  wind,  casting  a  steady 
red  light  over  the  scene.  There  was  but  one  human 
figure  in  sight.  Beside  the  fire  stood  the  tall  wan 
derer.  He  was  hatless  and  coatless,  and  his  arms  were 
folded  across  his  chest.  Seemingly  oblivious  to  the 
approach  of  the  storm,  he  stood  staring  into  the  heap 
of  ashes  at  his  feet.  His  face  was  toward  her,  every 
feature  plainly  distinguishable  in  the  faint  glow  from 
the  fire.  To  her  amazement  the  black  patch  was  miss 
ing  from  the  eye;  and,  what  surprised  her  almost  to 
the  point  of  exclaiming  aloud,  there  appeared  to  be 
absolutely  no  reason  for  its  presence  there  at  any  time. 
There  was  no  mark  or  blemish  upon  or  about  the  eye ; 
it  was  as  clear  and  penetrating  as  its  fellow,  darkly 
gleaming  in  the  red  glow  from  below.  Moreover, 
Beverly  saw  that  he  was  strikingly  handsome  —  a 
strong,  manly  face.  The  highly  imaginative  southern 
girl's  mind  reverted  to  the  first  portraits  of  Napoleon 
she  had  seen. 

Suddenly  he  started,  threw  up  his  head  and  looking 
up  to  the  sky  uttered  some  strange  words.  Then  he 


54          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTAUK 

strode  abruptly  toward  her  doorway-  She  fell  back 
breathless.  He  stopped  just  outside,  and  she  knew 
that  he  was  listening  for  sounds  from  within.  After 
many  minutes  she  stealthily  looked  forth  again.  He 
was  standing  near  the  fire,  his  back  toward  her,  looking 
off  into  the  night. 

The  wind  was  growing  stronger ;  the  breezes  fanned 
the  night  into  a  rush  of  shivery  coolness.  Constant 
fiickerings  of  lightning  illuminated  the  forest,  trans 
forming  the  tree-tops  into  great  black  waves.  Tall 
reeds  along  the  river  bank  began  to  bend  their  tops, 
to  swing  themselves  gently  to  and  from  the  wind.  In 
the  lowlands  down  from  the  cave  "  Avill  o'  the  wisps  " 
played  tag  with  "  Jack  o'  the  lanterns,"  merrily  scam 
pering  about  in  the  blackness,  reminding  her  of  the 
revellers  in  a  famous  Brocken  scene.  Low  moans 
grew  out  of  the  havoc,  and  voices  seemed  to  speak  in 
unintelligible  whispers  to  the  agitated  twigs  and 
leaves.  The  secrets  of  the  wind  were  being  spread 
upon  the  records  of  the  night;  tales  of  many  climes 
passed  through  the  ears  of  Nature. 

From  gentle  undulations  the  marshland  reeds  swept 
into  lower  dips,  danced  wilder  minuets,  lashed  each 
other  with  infatuated  glee,  mocking  the  whistle  of 
the  wind  with  an  angry  swish  of  their  tall  bodies. 
Around  the  cornices  of  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and 
Raven  scurried  the  singing  breezes,  reluctant  to  leave 
a  playground  so  pleasing  to  the  fancy.  Soon  the 
night  became  a  cauldron,  a  surging,  hissing,  roaring 
receptacle  in  which  were  mixing  the  ingredients  of 
disaster.  Night-birds  flapped  through  the  moaning 


INN    OF    THE    HAWK    AND    RAVEN    55 

tree-tops,  in  search  of  shelter;  reeds  were  flattened  to 
the  earth,  bowing  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  wind ; 
clouds  roared  with  the  rumble  of  a  million  chariots, 
and  then  the  sky  and  the  earth  met  in  one  of  those 
savage  conflicts  that  make  all  other  warfare  seem 
as  play. 

As  Beverly  sank  back  from  the  crash,  she  saw  him 
throw  his  arms  aloft  as  though  inviting  the  elements 
to  mass  themselves  and  their  energy  upon  his  head. 
She  shrieked  involuntarily  and  he  heard  the  cry  above 
the  carnage.  Instantly  his  face  was  turned  in  her 
direction. 

"  Help !  Help !  "  she  cried.  He  bounded  toward 
the  swishing  robes  and  blankets,  but  his  impulse  had 
found  a  rival  in  the  blast.  Like  a  flash  the  walls  of 
the  guest  chamber  were  whisked  away,  scuttling  off 
into  the  night  or  back  into  the  depths  of  the  cavern. 
With  the  deluge  came  the  man.  From  among  the 
stifling  robes  he  snatched  her  up  and  bore  her  away, 
she  knew  not  whither. 


CHAPTER  VI 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION 

AY  all  storms  be  as  pleasant  as  this 
one !  "  she  heard  someone  say,  with  a 
merry  laugh.  The  next  instant  she  was 
placed  soundly  upon  her  feet.  A  blind 
ing  flash  of  lightning  revealed  Baldos, 
the  goat-hunter,  at  her  side,  while  a 
dozen  shadowy  figures  were  scrambling  to  their  feet  in 
all  corners  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven.  Someone  was 
clutching  her  by  the  dress  at  the  knees.  She  did  not 
have  to  look  down  to  know  that  it  was  Aunt  Fanny. 

"  Goodness !  "  gasped  the  princess,  and  then  it  was 
pitch  dark  again.  The  man  at  her  side  called  out  a 
command  in  his  own  language,  and  then  turned  his 
face  close  to  hers. 

"  Do  not  be  alarmed.  We  are  quite  safe  now.  The 
royal  bed-chamber  has  come  to  grief,  however,  I  am 
sorry  to  say.  What  a  fool  I  was  not  to  have  fore 
seen  all  this !  The  storm  has  been  brewing  since  mid 
night,"  he  was  saying  to  her. 

"  Isn't  it  awful?  "  cried  Beverly,  between  a  moan 
and  a  shriek. 

'  They  are  trifles  after  one  gets  used  to  them,* 
56 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION  57 

he  said.  "  I  have  come  to  be  quite  at  home  in  the 
tempest.  There  are  other  things  much  more  annoy 
ing,  I  assure  your  highness.  We  shall  have  lights  in 
a  moment."  Even  as  he  spoke,  two  or  three  lanterns 
began  to  flicker  feebly. 

"  Be  quiet,  Aunt  Fanny;  you  are  not  killed  at  all," 
commanded  Beverly,  quite  firmly. 

"  De  house  is  suah  to  blow  down,  Miss  —  yo'  high 
ness,"  groaned  the  trusty  maidservant.  Beverly 
laughed  bravely  but  nervously  with  the  tall  goat- 
hunter.  He  at  once  set  about  making  his  guest  com 
fortable  and  secure  from  the  effects  of  the  tempest, 
which  was  now  at  its  height.  Her  couch  of  cushions 
was  dragged  far  back  into  the  cavern  and  the  rescued 
blankets,  though  drenched,  again  became  a  screen. 

"  Do  you  imagine  that  I'm  going  in  there  while 
this  storm  rages?"  Beverly  demanded,  as  the  work 
progressed. 

"  Are  you  not  afraid  of  lightning?  Most  young 
women  arc." 

"  That's  the  trouble.  I  am  afraid  of  it.  I'd  much 
rather  stay  out  here  where  there  is  company.  You 
don't  mind,  do  you?  " 

"  Paradise  cannot  be  spurned  by  one  who  now  feels 
its  warmth  for  the  first  time,"  said  he,  gallantly. 
"  Your  fear  is  my  delight.  Pray  sit  upon  our  throne. 
It  was  once  a  humble  carriage  pail  of  leather,  but  now 
it  is  exalted.  Besides,  it  is  much  more  comfortable 
than  some  of  the  gilded  chairs  we  hear  about." 

"  You  are  given  to  irony,  I  fear,"  she  said,  observ 
ing  a  peculiar  smile  on  his  lips. 


58         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  crave  pardon,  your  highness,"  he  said,  humbly. 
"  The  heart  of  the  goat-hunter  is  more  gentle  than 
his  wit.  I  shall  not  again  forget  that  you  are  a 
princess  and  I  the  veriest  beggar." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  hurt  you !  "  she  cried,  in  contri 
tion,  for  she  was  a  very  poor  example  of  what  a 
princess  is  supposed  to  be. 

"  There  is  no  wound,  your  highness,"  he  quickly 
said.  With  a  mocking  grace  that  almost  angered  her, 
he  dropped  to  his  knee  and  motioned  for  her  to  be 
seated.  She  sat  down  suddenly,  clapping  her  hands 
to  her  ears  and  shutting  her  eyes  tightly.  The 
crash  of  thunder  that  came  at  that  instant  was  the 
most  fearful  of  all,  and  it  was  a  full  minute  before 
she  dared  to  lift  her  lids  again.  He  was  standing 
before  her,  and  there  was  genuine  compassion  in  his 
face.  "  It's  terrible,"  he  said.  "  Never  before  have 
I  seen  such  a  storm.  Have  courage,  your  highness; 
it  can  last  but  little  longer." 

"  Goodness! "  said  the  real  American  girl,  for  want 
of  something  more  expressive. 

"  Your  servant  has  crept  into  your  couch,  I  fear. 
Shall  I  sit  here  at  your  feet?  Perhaps  you  may  feel 
a  small  sense  of  security  if  I  — 

"  Indeed,  I  want  you  to  sit  there,"  she  cried.  He 
forthwith  threw  himself  upon  the  floor  of  the  cave,  a 
graceful,  respectful  guardian.  Minutes  went  by 
without  a  word  from  either.  The  noise  of  the  storm 
made  it  impossible  to  speak  and  be  heard.  Scattered 
about  the  cavern  were  his  outstretched  followers, 
doubtless  asleep  once  more  in  all  this  turmoil.  With 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION          59 

the  first  lull  in  the  war  of  the  elements,  Beverly  gave 
utterance  to  the  thought  that  long  had  been  strug 
gling  for  release. 

"  Why  do  you  wear  that  horrid  black  patch  over 
your  eye  ?  "  she  asked,  a  trifle  timidly.  He  muttered 
a  sharp  exclamation  and  clapped  his  hand  to  his  eye. 
For  the  first  time  since  the  beginning  of  their  strange 
acquaintanceship  Beverly  observed  downright  con 
fusion  in  this  debonair  knight  of  the  wilds. 

"  It  has  —  has  slipped  off "  he  stammered, 

with  a  guilty  grin.  His  merry  insolence  was  gone, 
his  composure  with  it.  Beverly  laughed  with  keen 
enjoyment  over  the  discomfiture  of  the  shame-faced 
vagabond. 

"  You  can't  fool  me,"  she  exclaimed,  shaking  her 
finger  at  him  in  the  most  unconventional  way.  "  It 
was  intended  to  be  a  disguise.  There  is  absolutely 
nothing  the  matter  with  your  eye." 

He  was  speechless  for  a  moment,  recovering  himself. 
Wisdom  is  conceived  in  silence,  and  he  knew  this. 
Vagabond  or  gentleman,  he  was  a  clever  actor. 

"  The  eye  is  weak,  your  highness,  and  I  cover  it 
in  the  daytime  to  protect  it  from  the  sunlight,"  he 
said,  coolly. 

;'  That's  all  very  nice,  but  it  looks  to  be  quite  as 
good  as  the  other.  And  what  is  more,  sir,  you  are  not 
putting  the  patch  over  the  same  eye  that  wore  it  when 
I  first  saw  you.  It  was  the  left  eye  at  sunset.  Does 
the  trouble  transfer  after  dark  ?  " 

He  broke  into  an  honest  laugh  and  hastily  moved 
the  black  patch  across  his  nose  to  the  left  eye. 


60         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  was  turned  around  in  the  darkness,  that's  all," 
he  said,  serenely.  "  It  belongs  over  the  left  eye,  and 
I  am  deeply  grateful  to  you  for  discovering  the  error." 

"  I  don't  see  any  especial  reason  why  you  should 
wear  it  after  dark,  do  you?  There  is  no  sunlight, 
I'm  sure." 

"  I  am  dazzled,  nevertheless,"  he  retorted. 

"  Fiddlesticks !  "  she  said.  "  This  is  a  cave,  not  a 
drawing-room." 

"  In  other  words,  I  am  a  lout  and  not  a  courtier," 
he  smiled.  "  Well,  a  lout  may  look  at  a  princess.  We 
have  no  court  etiquette  in  the  hills,  I  am  sorry  to 
say." 

"  That  was  very  unkind,  even  though  you  said  it 
most  becomingly,"  she  protested.  "  You  have  called 
this  pail  a  throne.  Let  us  also  imagine  that  you  are 
a  courtier." 

"  You  punish  me  most  gently,  your  highness.  I 
shall  not  forget  my  manners  again,  believe  me."  He 
seemed  thoroughly  subdued. 

"  Then  I  shall  expect  you  to  remove  that  horrid 
black  thing.  It  is  positively  villainous.  You  look 
much  better  without  it." 

ct  Is  it  an  edict  or  a  compliment  ?  "  he  asked  with 
such  deep  gravity  that  she  flushed. 

"  It  is  neither,"  she  answered.  "  You  don't  have  to 
take  it  off  unless  you  want  to — 

"  In  either  event,  it  is  off.  You  were  right.  It 
serves  as  a  partial  disguise.  I  have  many  enemies 
and  the  black  patch  is  a  very  good  friend." 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION          61 

"  How  perfectly  lovely,"  cried  Beverly.  "  Tell  me 
all  about  it.  I  adore  stories  about  feuds  and  all  that." 

"  Your  husband  is  an  American.  He  should  be 
able  to  keep  you  well  entertained  with  blood-and- thun 
der  stories,"  said  he. 

"  My  hus  —  What  do  you  —  Oh,  yes !  "  gasped 
Beverly.  "  To  be  sure.  I  didn't  hear  you,  I  guess. 
That  was  rather  a  severe  clap  of  thunder,  wasn't  it?  " 

"  Is  that  also  a  command  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  There  was  no  thunderclap,  you  know." 

"  Oh,  wasn't  there  ?  "  helplessly. 

"  The  storm  is  quite  past.  There  is  still  a  dash 
of  rain  in  the  air  and  the  wind  may  be  dying  hard, 
but  aside  from  that  I  think  the  noise  is  quite  subdued." 

"  I  believe  you  are  right.     How  sudden  it  all  was." 

"  There  are  several  hours  between  this  and  dawn, 
your  highness,  and  you  should  try  to  get  a  little  more 
sleep.  Your  cushions  are  dry  and " 

"  Very  well,  since  you  are  so  eager  to  get  rid 

of "  began  Beverly,  and  then  stopped,  for  it  did 

not  sound  particularly  regal.  "  I  should  have  said, 
you  are  very  thoughtful.  You  will  call  me  if  I  sleep 
Sate?" 

"  We  shall  start  early,  with  your  permission.  It 
is  forty  miles  to  Ganlook,  and  we  must  be  half  way 
there  by  nightfall." 

"  Must  we  spend  another  night  like  this  ?  "  cried 
Beverly,  dolefully. 

"  Alas,  I  fear  you  must  endure  us  another  night.    I 


62         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

am  afraid,  however,  we  shall  not  find  quarters  as  com 
fortable  as  these  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  be  ungrateful  and  — -  er  —  snip- 
pish,"  she  said,  wondering  if  he  knew  the  meaning  of 
the  word. 

"  No?  "  he  said  politely,  and  she  knew  he  did  not  — • 
whereupon  she  felt  distinctly  humbled. 

"  You  know  you  speak  such  excellent  English,"  she 
said  irrelevantly. 

He  bowed  low.  As  he  straightened  his  figure,  to 
his  amazement,  he  beheld  an  agonizing  look  of  horror 
on  her  face;  her  eyes  riveted  on  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern.  Then,  there  came  an  angrier  sound,  unlike 
any  that  had  gone  before  in  that  night  of  turmoil. 

"  Look  there !     Quick !  " 

The  cry  of  terror  from  the  girl's  palsied  lips,  as 
she  pointed  to  something  behind  him,  awoke  the  moun 
tain  man  to  instant  action.  Instinctively,  he  snatched 
his  long  dagger  from  its  sheath  and  turned  quickly. 
Not  twenty  feet  from  them  a  huge  cat-like  beast  stood 
half  crouched  on  the  edge  of  the  darkness,  his  long 
tail  switching  angrily.  The  feeble  light  from  the 
depth  of  the  cave  threw  the  long,  water-soaked  visitor 
into  bold  relief  against  the  black  wall  beyond. 
Apparently,  he  was  as  much  surprised  as  the  two  who 
glared  at  him,  as  though  frozen  to  the  spot.  A  snarl 
ing  whine,  a  fierce  growl,  indicated  his  fury  at 
finding  his  shelter  —  his  lair  occupied. 

"  My  God !  A  mountain  lion !  Ravone  !  Franz ! 
To  me !  "  he  cried  hoarsely,  and  sprang  before  her 
shouting  loudly  to  the  sleepers. 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION          63 

A  score  of  men,  half  awake,  grasped  their  weapons 
and  struggled  to  their  feet  in  answer  to  his  call.  The 
lion's  gaunt  body  shot  through  the  air.  In  two 
bounds,  lie  was  upon  the  goat-hunter.  Baldos  stood 
squarely  and  firmly  to  meet  the  rush  of  the  maddened 
beast,  his  long  dagger  poised  for  the  death-dealing 
blow. 

"  Run !  "  he  shouted  to  her. 

Beverly  Calhoun  had  fighting  blood  in  her  veins. 
Utterly  unconscious  of  her  action,  at  the  time,  she 
quickly  drew  the  little  silver-handled  revolver  from 
the  pocket  of  her  gown.  As  man,  beast  and  knife 
came  together,  in  her  excitement  she  fired  recklessly 
at  the  combatants  without  any  thought  of  the  immi 
nent  danger  of  killing  her  protector.  There  was  a  wild 
scream  of  pain  from  the  wounded  beast,  more  pistol 
shots,  fierce  yells  from  the  excited  hunters,  the  rush 
of  feet  and  then  the  terrified  and  almost  frantic  girl 
staggered  and  fell  against  the  rocky  wall.  Her  wide 
gray  eyes  were  fastened  upon  the  writhing  lion  and 
the  smoking  pistol  was  tightly  clutched  in  her  hand. 

It  had  all  occurred  in  such  an  incredible  short  space 
of  time  that  she  could  not  yet  realize  what  had  hap 
pened. 

Her  heart  and  brain  seemed  paralyzed,  her  limbs 
stiff  and  immovable.  Like  the  dizzy  whirl  of  a  ka 
leidoscope,  the  picture  before  her  resolved  itself  into 
shape. 

The  beast  was  gasping  his  last  upon  the  rocky  floor, 
the  hilt  of  the  goat  hunter's  dagger  protruding  from 
his  side.  Baldos,  supported  by  two  of  his  men,  stood 


64         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

above  the  savage  victim,  his  legs  covered  with  blood. 
The  cave  was  full  of  smoke  and  the  smell  of  powder. 
Out  of  the  haze  she  began  to  see  the  light  of  under 
standing.  Baldos  alone  was  injured.  He  had  stood 
between  her  and  the  rush  of  the  lion,  and  he  had 
saved  her,  at  a  cost  she  knew  not  how  great. 

"  Oh,  the  blood !  "  she  cried  hoarsely.  "  Is  it  — 
is  it  —  are  you  badly  hurt?"  She  was  at  his  side, 
the  pistol  falling  from  her  nervous  fingers. 

"  Don't  come  nea.  me ;  I'm  all  right,"  he  cried 
quickly. 

"  Take  care  —  your  dress  — 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad  to  hear  you  speak !  Never  mind 
the  dress !  You  are  torn  to  pieces !  You  must  be 
frightfully  hurt.  Oh,  isn't  it  terrible  —  horrible ! 
Aunt  Fanny !  Come  here  this  minute !  " 

Forgetting  the  beast  and  throwing  off  the  paralysis 
of  fear,  she  pushed  one  of  the  men  away  and  grasped 
the  arm  of  the  injured  man.  He  winced  perceptibly 
and  she  felt  something  warm  and  sticky  on  her  hands. 
She  knew  it  was  blood,  but  it  was  not  in  her  to  shrink 
at  a  moment  like  this. 

"  Your  arm,  too ! "  she  gasped.  He  smiled, 
although  his  face  was  white  with  pain.  "  How  brave 
you  were !  You  might  have  been  —  I'll  never  forget 
it  —  never !  Don't  stand  there,  Aunt  Fanny  !  Quick ! 
Get  those  cushions  for  him.  He's  hurt." 

"  Good  Lawd ! "  was  all  the  old  woman  could  say, 
but  she  obeyed  her  mistress. 

"  It  was  easier  than  it  looked,  your  highness," 
murmured  Baldos.  "  Luck  was  with  me.  The  knife 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION          65 

went  to  his  heart.  I  am  merely  scratched.  His  leap 
was  short,  but  he  caught  me  above  the  knees  with 
his  claws.  Alas,  your  highness,  these  trousers  of 
mine  were  bad  enough  before,  but  now  they  are  in 
shreds.  What  patching  I  shall  have  to  do!  And 
you  may  well  imagine  we  are  short  of  thread  and 
needles  and  thimbles  — 

"Don't  jest,  for  heaven's  sake!  Don't  talk  like 
that.  Here !  Lie  down  upon  these  cushions  and  — 

"  Never !  Desecrate  the  couch  of  Graustark's 
ruler?  I,  the  poor  goat-hunter?  I'll  use  the  lion  for 
a  pillow  and  the  rock  for  an  operating  table.  In  ten 
minutes  my  men  can  have  these  scratches  dressed  and 
bound  —  in  fact,  there  is  a  surgical  student  among 
them,  poor  fellow.  I  think  I  am  his  first  patient. 
Ravone,  attend  me." 

He  threw  himself  upon  the  ground  and  calmly 
placed  his  head  upon  the  body  of  the  animal. 

"  I  insist  upon  your  taking  these  cushions,"  cried 
Beverly. 

"  And  I  decline  irrevocably."  She  stared  at  him 
in  positive  anger.  "  Trust  Ravone  to  dress  these 
trifling  wounds,  your  highness.  He  may  not  be  as 
gentle,  but  he  is  as  firm  as  any  princess  in  all  the 
world." 

"But  your  arm?"  she  cried.  "Didn't  you  say 
it  was  your  legs?  Your  arm  is  covered  with  blood, 
too.  Oh,  dear  me,  I'm  afraid  you  are  frightfully 
wounded." 

"  A  stray  bullet  from  one  of  my  men  struck  mr 


66         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

there,  I  think.  You  know  there  was  but  little  time 
for  aiming " 

"  Wait !  Let  me  think  a  minute !  Good  heavens !  " 
she  exclaimed  with  a  start.  Her  eyes  were  suddenly 
filled  with  tears  and  there  was  a  break  in  her  voice. 
"  I  shot  you !  Don't  deny  it  —  don't !  It  is  the  right 
arm,  and  your  men  could  not  have  hit  it  from  where 
they  stood.  Oh,  oh,  oh  !  " 

Baldos  smiled  as  he  bared  his  arm.  "  Your  aim  was 
good,"  he  admitted.  "  Had  not  my  knife  already 
been  in  the  lion's  heart,  your  bullet  would  have  gone 
there.  It  is  my  misfortune  that  my  arm  was  in  the 
way.  Besides,  your  highness,  it  has  only  cut  through 
the  skin  —  and  a  little  below,  perhaps.  It  will  be  well 
in  a  day  or  two.  I  am  sure  you  will  find  your  bullet 
in  the  carcass  of  our  lamented  friend,  the  probable 
owner  of  this  place." 

Ravone,  a  hungry -looking  youth,  took  charge  of 
the  wounded  leader,  while  her  highness  retreated  to 
the  farthest  corner  of  the  cavern.  There  she  sat  and 
trembled  while  the  wounds  were  being  dressed.  Aunt 
Fanny  bustled  back  and  forth,  first  unceremoniously 
pushing  her  way  through  the  circle  of  men  to  take 
observations,  and  then  reporting  to  the  impatient 
girl.  The  storm  had  passed  and  the  night  was  still, 
except  for  the  rush  of  the  river;  raindrops  fell  now 
and  then  from  the  trees,  glistening  like  diamonds  as 
they  touched  the  light  from  the  cavern's  mouth.  It 
was  all  very  dreary,  uncanny  and  oppressive  to  poor 
Beverly.  Now  and  then  she  caught  herself  sobbing, 
more  out  of  shame  and  humiliation  than  in  sadness, 


THE    HOME    OF    THE    LION          67 

for  had  she  not  shot  the  man  who  stepped  between 
her  and  death?  What  must  he  think  of  her? 

"  He  says  yo'  all  'd  betteh  go  to  baid,  Miss  Bev  — • 
yo'  highness,"  said  Aunt  Fanny  after  one  of  her 
trips. 

"Oh,  he  does,  does  he?"  sniffed  Beverly.  "I'll 
go  to  bed  when  I  please.  Tell  him  so.  No,  no  — 
don't  do  it,  Aunt  Fanny!  Tell  him  I'll  go  to  bed 
when  I'm  sure  he  is  quite  comfortable,  not  before." 

"  But  he's  jes'  a  goat  puncheh  er  a  — 

"  He's  a  man,  if  there  ever  was  one.  Don't  let 
me  hear  you  call  him  a  goat  puncher  again.  How 
are  his  legs?  "  Aunt  Fanny  was  almost  stunned  by 
this  amazing  question  from  her  ever-decorous  mistress. 
"  Why  don't  you  answer?  Will  they  have  to  be  cut 
off  ?  Didn't  you  see  them  ?  " 

"  Fo'  de  Lawd's  sake,  missy,  co'se  Ah  did,  but  yo' 
all  kindeh  susprise  me.  Dey's  p'etty  bad  skun  up, 
missy ;  de  hide's  peeled  up  consid'blc.  But  hit  ain' 
dang'ous, —  no,  ma'am.  Jes'  skun,  'at's  all." 

"  And  his  arm  —  where  I  shot  him  ?  " 

"  PufFcc'ly  triflin',  ma'am, —  yo'  highness.  Cob 
webs  'd  stop  de  bleedin'  an'  Ah  tole  'em  so,  but  'at 
fclleh  couldn'  un'stan'  me.  Misteh  what's-his-name, 
he  says  something  to  de  doctch,  an'  den  dey  goes  afteh 
de  cobwebs,  suah  'nough.  'Tain'  bleedin'  no  mo', 
missy.  He's  mostes'  neah  doin'  ve'y  fine.  Co'se,  he 
cain'  walk  fo'  sev'l  days  wiv  dem  laigs  o'  his'n, 
but-  — " 

"  Then,  in  heaven's  name,  how  are  we  to  get  to 
Edelweiss  ?  " 


68          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  He  c'n  ride,  cain't  lie?     Wha's  to  hindcli  him?  " 

"  Quite  right.  He  shall  ride  inside  the  coach.  Go 
and  see  if  I  can  do  anything  for  him." 

Aunt  Fanny  returned  in  a  few  minutes. 

"  He  says  yo'll  do  him  a  great  favoh  if  yo'  jcs' 
go  to  baid.  He  sends  his  'spects  an'  hopes  yo'  slum- 
beh  won'  be  distubbed  ag'in." 

"  He's  a  perfect  brute !  "  exclaimed  Beverly,  but  she 
went  over  and  crawled  under  the  blankets  and  among 
the  cushions  the  wounded  man  had  scorned. 


CHAPTER  VII 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES 

HERE  was  a  soft,  warm,  yellow  glow 
to  the  world  when  Beverly  Calhoun 
next  looked  upon  it.  The  sun  from  his 
throne  in  the  mountain  tops  was  smil 
ing  down  upon  the  valley  the  night 
had  ravaged  while  he  was  on  the  other 
side  of  the  earth.  The  leaves  of  the  trees  were  a 
softer  green,  the  white  of  the  rocks  and  the  yellow  of 
the  road  were  of  a  gentler  tint;  the  brown  and  green 
reeds  were  proudly  erect  once  more. 

The  stirring  of  the  mountain  men  had  awakened 
Aunt  Fanny,  and  she  in  turn  called  her  mistress  from 
the  surprisingly  peaceful  slumber  into  which  perfect 
health  had  sent  her  not  so  many  hours  before.  At 
the  entrance  to  the  improvised  bedchamber  stood 
buckets  of  water  from  the  spring. 

"  We  have  very  thoughtful  chambermaids,"  re 
marked  Beverly  while  Aunt  Fanny  was  putting  her 
hair  into  presentable  shape.  "And  an  energetic  cook," 
she  added  as  the  odor  of  broiled  meat  came  to  her  nos 
trils. 

69 


70         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Ah  cain'  see  nothin'  o'  dat  beastes,  Miss  Beverly 
—  an'  —  Ah  —  Ah  got  mah  suspicions,"  said  Aunt 
Fanny,  with  sepulchral  despair  in  her  voice. 

"  They've  thrown  the  awful  thing  into  the  river," 
concluded  Beverly. 

"  Dey's  cookin'  hit !  "  said  Aunt  Fanny  solemnly. 

"  Good  heaven,  no !  "  cried  Beverly.  "  Go  and  see, 
this  minute.  I  wouldn't  eat  that  catlike  thing  for  the 
whole  world."  Aunt  Fanny  came  back  a  few  minutes 
later  with  the  assurance  that  they  were  roasting  goat 
meat.  The  skin  of  the  midnight  visitor  was  stretched 
upon  the  ground  not  far  away. 

"  And  how  is  he?  "  asked  Beverly,  jamming  a  hat 
pin  through  a  helpless  bunch  of  violets. 

"  He's  ve'y  'spectably  skun,  yo'  highness." 

"  I  don't  mean  the  animal,  stupid." 

"  Yo'  mean  'at  Misteh  Goat  man  ?  He's  settin'  up 
an'  chattin'  as  if  nothin'  happened.  He  says  to  me 
'at  we  staht  on  ouah  way  jes'  as  soon  as  yo'  all  eats 
yo'  b'eakfus'.  De  bosses  is  hitched  up  an' — 

"  Has  everybody  else  eaten  ?  Am  I  the  only  one 
that  hasn't?  "  cried  Beverly. 

"  'Ceptin'  me,  yo'  highness.  Ali'm  as  hungry  as  a 
poah  man's  dawg,  an' — 

"  And  he  is  being  kept  from  the  hospital  because 
I  am  a  lazy,  good-for-nothing  little  —  Come  on,  Aunt 
Fanny;  we  haven't  a  minute  to  spare.  If  he  looks 
very  ill,  we  do  without  breakfast." 

But  Baldos  was  the  most  cheerful  man  in  the  party. 
He  was  sitting  with  his  back  against  a  tree,  his  right 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        71 

arm  in  a  sling  of  woven  reeds,  his  black  patch  set 
upon  the  proper  eye. 

"  You  will  pardon  me  for  not  rising,"  he  said 
cheerily,  "  but,  your  highness,  I  am  much  too  awk 
ward  this  morning  to  act  as  befitting  a  courtier  in  the 
presence  of  his  sovereign.  You  have  slept  well  ?  " 

"  Too  well,  I  fear.  So  well,  in  fact,  that  you  have 
suffered  for  it.  Can't  we  start  at  once  ?  "  She  was 
debating  within  herself  whether  it  would  be  quite 
good  form  to  shake  hands  with  the  reclining  hero. 
In  the  glare  of  the  broad  daylight  he  and  his  follow 
ers  looked  more  ragged  and  famished  than  before,  but 
they  also  appeared  more  picturesquely  romantic. 

"  When  you  have  eaten  of  our  humble  fare,  your 
highness,  —  the  last  meal  at  the  Hawk  and  Raven." 

"  But  I'm  not  a  bit  hungry." 

"  It  is  very  considerate  of  you,  but  equally  unrea 
sonable.  You  must  eat  before  we  start." 

"  I  can't  bear  the  thought  of  your  suffering  when 
we  should  be  hurrying  to  a  hospital  and  competent 
surgeons."  He  laughed  gaily.  "  Oh,  you  needn't 
laugh.  I  know  it  hurts.  You  say  we  cannot  reach 
Ganlook  before  to-morrow?  Well,  we  can't  stop  here 
a  minute  longer  than  we  —  Oh,  thank  you !  "  '  A 
ragged  servitor  had  placed  a  rude  bowl  of  meat  and 
some  fruit  before  her. 

"  Sit  down  here,  your  highness,  and  prepare  your 
self  for  a  long  fast.  We  may  go  until  nightfall  with 
out  food.  The  game  is  scarce  and  we  dare  not  venture 
far  into  the  hills." 

Beverly  sat  at  his  feet  and  daintily  began  the  opera- 


72         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

tion  of  picking  a  bone  with  her  pretty  fingers  and 
teeth.  "  I  am  sorry  we  have  no  knives  and  forks," 
he  apologized. 

"  I  don't  mind,"  said  she.  "  I  wish  you  would  re 
move  that  black  patch." 

"  Alas,  I  must  resume  the  hated  disguise.  A  chance 
enemy  might  recognize  me." 

"  Your  —  your  clothes  have  been  mended,"  she  re 
marked  with  a  furtive  glance  at  his  long  legs.  The 
trousers  had  been  rudely  sewed  up  and  no  bandages 
were  visible.  "  Are  you  —  your  legs  terribly  hurt  ?  " 

"  They  are  badly  scratched,  but  not  seriously.  The 
bandages  are  skilfully  placed,"  he  added,  seeing  her 
look  of  doubt.  "  Ravone  is  a  genius." 

"  Well,  I'll  hurry,"  she  said,  blushing  deeply. 
Goat-hunter  though  he  was  and  she  a  princess,  his 
eyes  gleamed  with  the  j  oy  of  her  beauty  and  his  heart 
thumped  with  a  most  unruly  admiration.  "  You 
were  very,  very  brave  last  night,"  she  said  at  last  — 
and  her  rescuer  smiled  contentedly. 

She  was  not  long  in  finishing  the  rude  but  whole 
some  meal,  and  then  announced  her  readiness  to  be 
on  the  way.  With  the  authority  of  a  genuine  princess 
she  commanded  him  to  ride  inside  the  coach,  gave  in 
comprehensible  directions  to  the  driver  and  to  the 
escort,  and  would  listen  to  none  of  his  protestations. 
When  the  clumsy  vehicle  was  again  in  the  highway  and 
bumping  over  the  ridges  of  flint,  the  goat-hunter  was 
beside  his  princess  on  the  rear  seat,  his  feet  upon  the 
opposite  cushions  near  Aunt  Fanny,  a  well-arranged 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        73 

bridge  of  boxes  and  bags  providing  support  for  his 
long  legs. 

"  We  want  to  go  to  a  hospital,"  Beverly  had  said  to 
the  driver,  very  much  as  she  might  have  spoken  had 
she  been  in  Washington.  She  was  standing  bravely 
beside  the  forewheel,  her  face  flushed  and  eager.  Bal- 
dos,  from  his  serene  position  on  the  cushions,  watched 
her  with  kindling  eyes.  The  grizzled  driver  grinned 
and  shook  his  head  despairingly.  "  Oh,  pshaw !  You 
don't  understand,  do  you?  Hospital' — h-o-s-p-i-t- 
a-1,"  she  spelt  it  out  for  him,  and  still  he  shook  his 
head.  Others  in  the  motley  retinue  were  smiling 
broadly. 

"  Speak  to  him  in  your  own  language,  your  high 
ness,  and  he  will  be  sure  to  understand,"  ventured  the 
patient. 

"  I  am  speaking  in  my  —  I  mean,  I  prefer  to  speak 
in  English.  Please  tell  him  to  go  to  a  hospital,"  she 
said  confusedly.  Baldos  gave  a  few  jovial  instruc 
tions,  and  then  the  raggedest  courtier  of  them  all 
handed  Beverly  into  the  carriage  with  a  grace  that 
amazed  her. 

"  You  are  the  most  remarkable  goat-hunters  I  have 
ever  seen,"  she  remarked  in  sincere  wonder. 

"  And  you  speak  the  most  perfect  English  I've 
ever  heard,"  he  replied. 

"  Oh,  do  you  really  think  so?  Miss  Grimes  used 
to  say  I  was  hopeless.  You  know  I  had  a  —  a  tutor," 
she  hastily  explained.  "  Don't  you  think  it  strange 
we've  met  no  Axphain  soldiers?  "  she  went  on,  chang 
ing  the  subject  abruptly. 


74          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  We  are  not  yet  out  of  the  woods,"  he  said. 

"  That  was  a  purely  American  aphorism,"  she  cried, 
looking  at  him  intently.  "  Where  did  you  learn  all 
your  English  ?  " 

"  I  had  a  tutor,"  he  answered  easily. 

"  You  are  a  very  odd  person,"  she  sighed.  "  I 
don't  believe  that  you  are  a  goat-hunter  at  all." 

"  If  I  were  not  a  goat-hunter  I  should  have  starved 
long  ago,"  he  said.  "  Why  do  you  doubt  me  ?  " 

"  Simply  because  you  treat  me  one  moment  as  if 
I  were  a  princess,  and  the  next  as  if  I  were  a  child. 
Humble  goat-hunters  do  not  forget  their  station  in 
life." 

"  I  have  much  to  learn  of  the  deference  due  to 
queens,"  he  said. 

"  That's  just  like  '  The  Mikado'  or  '  Pinafore,'  " 
she  exclaimed.  "  I  believe  you  are  a  comic-opera 
brigand  or  a  pirate  chieftain,  after  all." 

"  I  am  a  lowly  outcast,"  he  smiled. 

"  Well,  I've  decided  to  take  you  into  Edelweiss 
and " 

"  Pardon  me,  your  highness,"  he  said  firmly. 
"  That  cannot  be.  I  shall  not  go  to  Edelweiss." 

"  But  I  command  you " 

"  It's  very  kind  of  you,  but  I  cannot  enter  a  hos 
pital  —  not  even  at  Ganlook.  I  may  as  well  confess 
that  I  am  a  hunted  man  and  that  the  instructions 
are  to  take  me  dead  or  alive." 

"  Impossible !  "  she  gasped,  involuntarily  shrink 
ing  from  him. 

"  I  have  wronged  no  man,  yet  I  am  being  hunted 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        75 

down  as  though  I  were  a  beast,"  he  said,  his  face 
turning  haggard  for  the  moment.  "  The  hills  of 
Graustark,  the  plateaus  of  Axphain  and  the  valleys 
of  Dawsbergen  are  alive  with  men  who  are  bent  on 
ending  my  unhappy  but  inconvenient  existence.  It 
would  be  suicide  for  me  to  enter  any  one  of  your 
towns  or  cities.  Even  you  could  not  protect  me, 
I  fear." 

"  This  sounds  like  a  dream.  Oh,  dear  me,  you 
don't  look  like  a  hardened  criminal,"  she  cried. 

"  I  am  the  humble  leader  of  a  faithful  band  who 
will  die  with  me  when  the  time  comes.  We  are  not 
criminals,  your  highness.  In  return  for  what  service 
I  may  have  performed  for  you,  I  implore  you  to 
question  me  no  further.  Let  me  be  your  slave  up  to 
the  walls  of  Ganlook,  and  then  you  may  forget 
Baldos,  the  goat -hunter." 

"  I  never  can  forget  you,"  she  cried,  touching  his 
injured  arm  gently.  "Will  you  forget  the  one  who 
gave  you  this  wound  ?  " 

"  It  is  a  very  gentle  wound,  and  I  love  it  so  that 
I  pray  it  may  never  heal."  She  looked  away  sud 
denly. 

'*  Tell  me  one  thing,"  she  said,  a  mist  coming  over 
her  eyes.  "  You  say  they  are  hunting  you  to  the 
death.  Then  —  then  your  fault  must  be  a  grievous 
one.  Have  you  —  have  you  killed  a  man?  "  she  added 
hastily.  He  was  silent  for  a  long  time. 

"  I  fear  I  have  killed  more  than  one  man,"  he  said 
in  low  tones.  Again  she  shrank  into  the  corner  of 
the  coach.  "  History  says  that  your  father  was  a 


76         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

brave  soldier  and  fought  in  many  battles,"  he  went  on. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  thinking  of  Major  George  Cal- 
houn. 

"  He  killed  men  then,  perhaps,  as  I  have  killed 
them,"  he  said. 

"  Oh,  my  father  never  killed  a  man !  "  cried  Beverly, 
in  devout  horror. 

"  Yet  Graustark  reveres  his  mighty  prowess  on  the 
field  of  battle,"  said  he,  half  laconically. 

"  Oh,"  she  murmured,  remembering  that  she  was 
now  the  daughter  of  Yetive's  father.  "  I  see.  You 
are  not  a  —  a  —  a  mere  murderer,  then  ?  " 

"  No.     I  have  been  a  soldier  —  that  is  all." 

"  Thank  heaven ! "  she  murmured,  and  was  no 
longer  afraid  of  him.  "  Would  —  would  a  pardon 
be  of  any  especial  benefit  to  you  ?  "  she  asked,  won 
dering  how  far  her  influence  might  go  with  the  Prin 
cess  Yetive. 

"  It  is  beyond  your  power  to  help  me,"  he  said 
gravely.  She  was  silent,  but  it  was  the  silence  of 
deep  reflection.  "  Your  highness  left  the  castle  ten 
days  ago,"  he  said,  dismissing  himself  as  a  subject 
for  conversation.  "  Have  you  kept  in  close  com 
munication  with  Edelweiss  during  that  time?  " 

"  I  know  nothing  of  what  is  going  on  there,"  she 
said,  quite  truthfully.  She  only  knew  that  she  had 
sent  a  message  to  the  Princess  Yetive,  apprising  her 
of  her  arrival  in  St.  Petersburg  and  of  her  intention 
to  leave  soon  for  the  Graustark  capital. 

"  Then  you  do  not  know  that  Mr.  Lorry  is  still 
on  the  Dawsbergen  frontier  in  conference  with  rep- 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        77 

iresentatives  from  Serros.  He  may  not  return  for  a 
tveek,  so  Colonel  Quinnox  brings  back  word." 

"  It's  news  to  me,"  murmured  Beverly. 

"  You  do  not  seem  to  be  alarmed,"  he  ventured. 
"  Yet  I  fancy  it  is  not  a  dangerous  mission,  although 
Prince  Gabriel  is  ready  to  battle  at  a  moment's  notice." 

"  I  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  Mr.  Lorry,"  said 
Beverly,  with  proper  pride. 

"  Baron  Dangloss,  your  minister  of  police,  is  in 
these  mountains  watching  the  operations  of  Axphain 
scouts  and  spies." 

"  Is  he?     You  are  very  well  posted,  it  seems." 

"  Moreover,  the  Axphainians  are  planning  to  attack 
Ganlook  upon  the  first  signal  from  their  ruler.  I  do 
not  wish  to  alarm  your  highness,  but  we  may  as  well 
expect  trouble  before  we  come  to  the  Ganlook  gates. 
You  are  known  to  be  in  the  pass,  and  I  am  certain  an 
effort  will  be  made  to  take  possession  of  your  person." 

"  They  wouldn't  dare !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Uncle 
Sam  would  annihilate  them  in  a  week." 

"  Uncle  Sam?  Is  he  related  to  your  Aunt  Fanny? 
I'm  afraid  he  could  do  but  little  against  Volga's  fight 
ing  men,"  he  said,  with  a  smile. 

"  They'd  soon  find  out  who  Uncle  Sam  is  if  they 
touch  me,"  she  threatened  grandly.  He  seemed  puz 
zled,  but  was  too  polite  to  press  her  for  explanations. 
"  But,  he  is  a  long  way  off  and  couldn't  do  much  if 
we  were  suddenly  attacked  from  ambush,  could  he? 
What  would  they  do  to  me  if  I  were  taken,  as  you 
suggest?  "  she  was  more  concerned  than  she  appeared 
to  be. 


78         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  With  you  in  their  hands,  Graustark  would  be 
utterly  helpless.  Volga  could  demand  anything  she 
liked,  and  your  ministry  would  be  forced  to  submit." 

"  I  really  think  it  would  be  a  capital  joke  on  the 
Princess  Volga,"  mused  Beverly  reflectively.  He  did 
not  know  what  she  meant,  but  regarded  her  soft  smile 
as  the  clear  title  to  the  serenity  of  a  princess. 

She  sank  back  and  gave  herself  over  to  the  com 
plications  that  were  likely  to  grow  out  of  her  involun 
tary  deception.  The  one  thing  which  worried  her 
more  than  all  others  was  the  fear  that  Yetive  might 
not  be  in  Edelweiss.  According  to  all  reports,  she 
had  lately  been  in  St.  Petersburg  and  the  mere  fact 
that  she  was  supposed  to  be  traveling  by  coach  was 
sufficient  proof  that  she  Avas  not  at  her  capital.  Then 
there  was,  of  course,  the  possibility  of  trouble  on  the 
road  with  the  Axphain  scouts,  but  Beverly  enjoyed 
the  optimism  of  youth  and  civilization. 

Baldos,  the  goat-hunter,  was  dreamily  thinking 
of  the  beautiful  young  woman  at  his  side  and  of  the 
queer  freak  Fortune  had  played  in  bringing  them  to 
gether.  As  he  studied  her  face  he  could  not  but 
lament  that  marriage,  at  least,  established  a  barrier 
between  her  and  the  advances  his  bold  heart  might 
otherwise  be  willing  to  risk.  His  black  hair  straggled 
down  over  his  forehead  and  his  dark  eyes  —  the  patch 
had  been  surreptitiously  lifted  —  were  unusually  pen 
sive. 

"  It  is  strange  that  you  live  in  Graustark  and  have 
not  seen  its  princess  —  before,"  she  said,  laying 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES       79 

groundwork  for  enquiry  concerning  the  acts  and 
whereabouts  of  the  real  princess. 

"  May  it  please  your  highness,  I  have  not  lived 
long  in  Graustark.  Besides,  it  is  said  that  half  the 
people  of  Ganlook  have  never  looked  upon  your  face." 

"  I'm  not  surprised  at  that.  The  proportion  is 
much  smaller  than  I  imagined.  I  have  not  visited 
Ganlook,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to  you." 

"  One  of  my  company  fell  in  with  some  of  your 
guards  from  the  Ganlook  garrison  day  before  yester 
day.  He  learned  that  you  were  to  reach  that  city 
within  forty-eight  hours.  A  large  detachment  of 
men  has  been  sent  to  meet  you  at  Labbot." 

"  Oh,  indeed,"  said  Beverly,  very  much  interested. 

"  They  must  have  been  misinformed  as  to  your 
route  —  or  else  your  Russian  escort  decided  to  take 
you  through  by  the  lower  and  more  hazardous  way. 
It  was  our  luck  that  you  came  by  the  wrong  road. 
Otherwise  we  should  not  have  met  each  other  —  and 
the  lion,"  he  said,  smiling  reflectively. 

"Where  is  Labbot?"  asked  she,  intent  upon  the 
one  subject  uppermost  in  her  mind. 

"  In  the  mountains  many  leagues  north  of  this  pass. 
Had  you  taken  that  route  instead  of  this,  you  would 
by  this  time  have  left  Labbot  for  the  town  of  Erros, 
a  half-day's  journey  from  Ganlook.  Instead  of  vaga 
bonds,  your  escort  would  have  been  made  up  of  loyal 
soldiers,  well-fed,  well-clad,  and  well  satisfied  with 
themselves,  at  least." 

"  But  no  braver,  no  truer  than  my  soldiers  of  for 
tune,"  she  said  earnestly.  "  By  the  way,  are  you 


80         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

informed  as  to  the  state  of  affairs  in  Dawsbergen?" 

"  Scarcely  as  well  as  your  highness  must  h^,"  he 
replied. 

"  The  young  prince  —  what's  his  name  ?  "  she 
paused,  looking  to  him  for  the  name. 

"Dantan?" 

"  Yes,  that's  it.  What  has  become  of  him  ?  I  am 
terribly  interested  in  him." 

"  He  is  a  fugitive,  they  say." 

"  They  haven't  captured  him,  then?  Good!  I  am 
so  glad." 

Baldos  exhibited  little  or  no  interest  in  the  fresh 
topic. 

"  It  is  strange  you  should  have  forgotten  his  name," 
he  said  wearily. 

"  Oh,  I  do  so  many  ridiculous  things !  "  complained 
Beverly,  remembering  who  she  was  supposed  to  be. 
"  I  have  never  seen  him,  you  know,"  she  added. 

"  It  is  not  strange,  your  highness.  He  was  edu 
cated  in  England  and  had  seen  but  little  of  his  own 
country  when  he  was  called  to  the  throne  two  years 
ago.  You  remember,  of  course,  that  his  mother  was 
an  Englishwoman  —  Lady  Ida  Falconer." 

"I  —  I  think  I  have  heard  some  of  his  history  —  a 
very  little,  to  be  sure,"  she  explained  lamely. 

"  Prince  Gabriel,  his  half  brother,  is  the  son  of 
Prince  Louis  the  Third  by  his  first  wife,  who  was  a 
Polish  countess.  After  her  death,  when  Gabriel  was 
two  years  old,  the  prince  married  Lady  Ida.  Dantan 
is  their  son.  He  has  a  sister  —  Candace,  who  is  but 
nineteen  years  of  age." 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        81 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  confess  that  you  know  so  much 
more  about  my  neighbors  than  I,"  she  said. 

"  I  lived  in  Dawsbergen  for  a  little  while,  and  was 
ever  interested  in  the  doings  of  royalty.  That  is  a 
poor  man's  privilege,  you  know." 

"  Prince  Gabriel  must  be  a  terrible  man,"  cried 
Beverly,  her  heart  swelling  with  tender  thoughts  of 
the  exiled  Dantan  and  his  little  sister. 

"  You  have  cause  to  know,"  said  he  shortly,  and 
she  was  perplexed  until  she  recalled  the  stories  of 
Gabriel's  misdemeanors  at  the  court  of  Edelweiss. 

"  Is  Prince  Dantan  as  handsome  as  they  say  he 
is?  "  she  asked. 

"  It  is  entirely  a  matter  of  opinion,"  he  replied. 
"  I,  for  one,  do  not  consider  him  at  all  prepossessing." 

The  day  went  on,  fatiguing,  distressing  in  its 
length  and  its  happenings.  Progress  was  neces 
sarily  slow,  the  perils  of  the  road  increasing  as  the 
little  cavalcade  wound  deeper  and  deeper  into  the 
wilderness.  There  were  times  when  the  coach  fairly 
crawled  along  the  edge  of  a  precipice,  a  proceeding  so 
hazardous  that  Beverly  shuddered  as  if  in  a  chill. 
Aunt  Fanny  slept  serenely  most  of  the  time,  and 
Baldos  took  to  dreaming  with  his  eyes  wide  open. 
Contrary  to  her  expectations,  the  Axphainians  did  not 
appear,  and  if  there  were  robbers  in  the  hills  they 
thought  better  than  to  attack  the  valorous-looking 
party.  It  dawned  upon  her  finally  that  the  Axphain 
ians  were  guarding  the  upper  route  and  not  the  one 
over  which  she  was  traveling.  Yetive  doubtless  was 
approaching  Ganlook  over  the  northern  pass,  pro- 


82         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

vidcd  the  enemy  had  not  been  encountered  before 
Labbot  was  reached.  Beverly  soon  found  herself  fear 
ing  for  the  safety  of  the  princess,  a  fear  which  at  last 
became  almost  unendurable. 

Near  nightfall  they  came  upon  three  Graustark 
shepherds  and  learned  that  Ganlook  could  not  be 
reached  before  the  next  afternoon.  The  tired,  hungry 
travelers  spent  the  night  in  a  snug  little  valley 
through  which  a  rivulet  bounded  onward  to  the  river 
below.  The  supper  was  a  scant  one,  the  foragers  hav 
ing  poor  luck  in  the  hunt  for  food.  Daybreak  saw 
them  on  their  way  once  more.  Hunger  and  dread  had 
worn  down  Beverly's  supply  of  good  spirits ;  she  was 
having  difficulty  in  keeping  the  haggard,  distressed 
look  from  her  face.  Her  tender,  hopeful  eyes  were  not 
so  bold  or  so  merry  as  on  the  day  before ;  cheerfulness 
cost  her  an  effort,  but  she  managed  to  keep  it  fairly 
alive.  Her  escort,  wretched  and  half-starved,  never 
forgot  the  deference  due  to  their  charge,  but  strode 
steadily  on  with  the  doggedness  of  martyrs.  At  times 
she  was  impelled  to  disclose  her  true  identity,  but  dis 
cretion  told  her  that  deception  wras  her  best  safeguard. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  the  front 
axle  of  the  coach  snapped  in  two,  and  a  tedious  delay 
of  two  hours  ensued.  Baldos  was  strangely  silent  and 
subdued.  It  was  not  until  the  misfortune  came  that 
Beverly  observed  the  flushed  condition  of  his  face. 
Involuntarily  and  with  the  compassion  of  a  true 
woman  she  touched  his  hand  and  brow.  They  were 
burning-hot.  The  wounded  man  was  in  a  high  fever. 
He  lauglipd  at.  her  fears  and  scoffed  at  the  prospect 


SOME    FACTS    AND    FANCIES        83 

of  blood-poisoning  and  the  hundred  other  possibilities 
that  suggested  themselves  to  her  anxious  brain. 

"  We  arc  close  to  Ganlook,"  he  said,  with  the  set 
ting  of  the  sun.  "  Soon  you  may  be  relieved  of  your 
tiresome,  cheerless  company,  your  highness." 

"  You  arc  going  to  a  physician,"  she  said,  reso 
lutely,  alive  and  active  once  more,  now  that  the  worst 
part  of  the  journey  was  coming  to  an  end.  "  Tell 
that  man  to  drive  in  a  gallop  all  the  rest  of  the  way !  " 


CHAPTER  VIII 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES 

Y  this  time  they  were  passing  the  queer 
little  huts  that  marked  the  outskirts  of 
a  habitable  community.  These  were 
the  homes  of  shepherds,  hunters  and 
others  whose  vocations  related  especial 
ly  to  the  mountains.  Farther  on  there 
were  signs  of  farming  interests;  the  homes  be 
came  more  numerous  and  more  pretentious  in  ap 
pearance.  The  rock-lined  gorge  broadened  into  a 
fertile  valley ;  the  road  was  smooth  and  level,  a  condi 
tion  which  afforded  relief  to  the  travelers.  Ravone 
had  once  more  dressed  the  wounds  inflicted  by  the  lion ; 
but  he  was  unable  to  provide  anything  to  subdue  the 
fever.  Baldos  was  undeniably  ill.  Beverly,  between 
her  exclamations  of  joy  and  relief  at  being  in  sight  of 
Ganlook,  was  profuse  in  her  expressions  of  concern 
for  the  hero  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven.  The  fever 
ish  gleam  in  his  dark  eyes  and  the  pain  that  marked 
his  face  touched  her  deeply.  Suffering  softened  his 
lean,  sun-browned  features,  obliterating  the  mocking 
lines  that  had  impressed  her  so  unfavorably  at  the 
outset.  She  was  saying  to  herself  that  he  was  hand- 

84 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES    85 

some  after  a  most  unusual  cast;  it  was  an  unforget- 
able  face. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  said  earnestly,  after  she  had 
looked  long  and  anxiously  at  his  half-closed  eyes,  "  we 
are  within  an  hour  of  Ganlook.  It  will  be  dark  before 
we  reach  the  gates,  I  know,  but  you  have  nothing  to 
fear  during  the  rest  of  the  trip.  Franz  shall  drive 
you  to  the  sentry  post  and  turn  over  the  horses  to  your 
own  men.  My  friends  and  I  must  leave  you  at  the 
end  of  the  mountain  road.  We  are  — 

"Ridiculous!"  she  cried.  "I'll  not  permit  it! 
You  must  go  to  a  hospital." 

"  If  I  enter  the  Ganlook  gates  it  will  be  the  same 
as  entering  the  gates  of  death,"  he  protested. 

"  Nonsense !  You  have  a  fever  or  you  wouldn't 
talk  like  that.  I  can  promise  you  absolute  security." 

"  You  do  not  understand,  your  highness." 

"  Nevertheless,  you  are  going  to  a  hospital,"  she 
firmly  said.  "  You  would  die  out  here  in  the  wilds,  so 
what  are  the  odds  either  way?  Aunt  Fanny,  will  you 
be  careful?  Don't  you  know  that  the  least  movement 
of  those  bags  hurts  him?  " 

"  Please,  do  not  mind  me,  your  highness.  I  am 
doing  very  well,"  he  said,  smiling. 

The  coach  brought  up  in  front  of  a  roadside  inn. 
While  some  of  the  men  were  watering  the  horses  others 
gathered  about  its  open  window.  A  conversation  in  a 
tongue  utterly  incomprehensible  to  Beverly  took  place 
between  Baldos  and  his  followers.  The  latter  seemed 
to  be  disturbed  about  something,  and  there  was  no  mis 
taking  the  solicitous  air  with  which  they  regarded 


86         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

their  leader.  The  pseudo-princess  was  patient  as  long 
as  possible  and  then  broke  into  the  discussion. 

"  What  do  they  want?  "  she  demanded  in  English. 

"  They  are  asking  for  instructions,"  he  answered. 

"  Instruct  them  to  do  as  I  bid,"  she  said.  "  Tell 
them  to  hurry  along  and  get  you  a  doctor ;  that's  all." 

Evidently  his  friends  were  of  the  same  opinion,  for 
after  a  long  harangue  in  which  he  was  obdurate  to  the 
last,  they  left  the  carriage  and  he  sank  back  with  a 
groan  of  dejection. 

"  What  is  it?  "  she  anxiously  demanded. 

"  They  also  insist  that  I  shall  go  to  a  surgeon,"  he 
said  hopelessly.  His  eyes  were  moist  and  he  could 
not  meet  her  gaze.  She  was  full  of  exultation. 
"  They  have  advised  me  to  put  myself  under  your  pro 
tection,  shameless  as  that  may  seem  to  a  man.  You 
and  you  alone  have  the  power  to  protect  me  if  I  pass 
beyond  the  walls  of  Ganlook." 

"  I?  "  she  cried,  all  a-flutter. 

"  I  could  not  thrust  my  head  into  the  jaws  of  death 
unless  the  princess  of  Graustark  were  there  to  stay 
their  fury.  Your  royal  hand  alone  can  turn  aside  the 
inevitable.  Alas,  I  am  helpless  and  know  not  what 
to  do." 

Beverly  Calhoun  sat  very  straight  and  silent  beside 
the  misguided  Baldos.  After  all,  it  was  not  within 
her  power  to  protect  him.  She  was  not  the  princess 
and  she  had  absolutely  no  influence  in  Ganlook.  The 
authorities  there  could  not  be  deceived  as  had  been 
these  ignorant  men  of  the  hills.  If  she  led  him  into 
the  city  it  was  decidedly  probable  that  she  might  be 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES    87 

taking  him  to  his  death.  She  only  could  petition,  not 
command.  Once  at  Yetive's  side  she  was  confident  she 
could  save  the  man  who  had  done  so  much  for  her,  but 
Ganlook  was  many  miles  from  Edelweiss,  and  there 
was  no  assurance  that  intervention  could  be  obtained 
in  time.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  went  back  to  the 
hills  he  was  likely  to  die  of  the  poisonous  fever.  Bev 
erly  was  in  a  most  unhappy  state  of  mind.  If  she  con 
fessed  to  him  that  she  was  not  the  princess,  he  would 
refuse  to  enter  the  gates  of  Ganlook,  and  be  perfectly 
justified  in  doing  so. 

"  But  if  I  should  fail?  "  she  asked,  at  last,  a  shiver 
rushing  over  her  and  leaving  her  cold  with  dread. 

"  You  are  the  only  hope,  your  highness.  You  had 
better  say  farewell  to  Baldos  and  let  him  again  seek 
the  friendly  valley,"  said  he  wearily.  "  We  can  go 
no  farther.  The  soldiers  must  be  near,  your  highness. 
It  means  capture  if  we  go  on.  I  cannot  expose  my 
friends  to  the  dangers.  Let  me  be  put  down  here,  and 
do  you  drive  on  to  safety.  I  shall  fare  much  better 
than  you  think,  for  I  am  young  «,nd  strong  and  — 

"  No !  I'll  risk  it,"  she  cried.  "  You  must  go  into 
the  city.  Tell  them  so  and  say  that  I  will  protect  you 
with  my  own  life  and  honor." 

Fever  made  him  submissive ;  her  eyes  gave  him  con 
fidence  ;  her  voice  soothed  his  fears,  if  he  possessed 
them.  Leaning  from  the  window,  he  called  his  men 
together.  Beverly  looked  on  in  wonder  as  these 
strange  men  bade  farewell  to  their  leader.  Many  of 
them  were  weeping,  and  most  of  them  kissed  his  hand. 


88         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

There  were  broken  sentences,  tear-choked  promises, 
anxious  inquiries,  and  the  parting  was  over. 

"Where  are  they  going?"  Beverly  whispered,  as 
they  moved  away  in  the  dusk. 

"  Back  into  the  mountains  to  starve,  poor  fellows. 
God  be  kind  to  them,  God  be  good  to  them,"  he  half 
sobbed,  his  chin  dropping  to  his  breast.  He  was 
trembling  like  a  leaf. 

"  Starve? "  she  whispered.  "  Have  they  no 
money?  " 

"  We  are  penniless,"  came  in  muffled  tones  from  the 
stricken  leader. 

Beverly  leaned  from  the  window  and  called  to  the 
departing  ones.  Ravone  and  one  other  reluctantly  ap 
proached.  Without  a  word  she  opened  a  small  travel 
ing  bag  and  drew  forth  a  heavy  purse.  This  she 
pressed  into  the  hand  of  the  student.  It  was  filled 
with  Graustark  gavvos,  for  which  she  had  exchanged 
American  gold  in  Russia. 

"  God  be  with  you,"  she  fervently  cried.  He  kissed 
her  hand,  and  the  two  stood  aside  to  let  the  coach  roll 
on  into  the  dusky  shadows  that  separated  them  from 
the  gates  of  Ganlook,  old  Franz  still  driving  —  the 
only  one  of  the  company  left  to  serve  his  leader  to  the 
very  end. 

"  Well,  we  have  left  them,"  muttered  Baldos,  as 
though  to  himself.  "  I  may  never  see  them  again  — 
never  see  them  again.  God,  how  true  they  have 
been ! " 

"  I  shall  send  for  them  the  moment  I  get  to  Ganlook 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES    89 

and  I'll  promise  pardons  for  them  all,"  she  cried 
rashly,  in  her  compassion. 

"  No !  "  he  exclaimed  fiercely.  "  You  are  not  to  dis 
turb  them.  Better  that  they  should  starve." 

Beverly  was  sufficiently  subdued.  As  they  drew 
nearer  the  city  gates  her  heart  began  to  fail  her.  This 
man's  life  was  in  her  weak,  incapable  hands  and  the 
time  was  nearing  when  she  must  stand  between  him  and 
disaster. 

"Where  are  these  vaunted  soldiers  of  yours?"  he 
suddenly  asked,  infinite  irony  in  his  voice. 

"My  soldiers?"  she  said  faintly. 

"  Isn't  it  rather  unusual  that,  in  time  of  trouble  and 
uncertainty,  we  should  be  able  to  approach  within  a 
mile  of  one  of  your  most  important  cities  without  even 
so  much  as  seeing  a  soldier  of  Graustark?  " 

She  felt  that  he  was  scoffing,  but  it  mattered  little 
to  her. 

"  It  is  a  bit  odd,  isn't  it?  "  she  agreed. 

"  Worse  than  that,  your  highness." 

"  I  shall  speak  to  Dangloss  about  it,"  she  said 
serenely,  and  he  looked  up  in  new  surprise.  Truly, 
she  was  an  extraordinary  princess. 

Fully  three-quarters  of  an  hour  passed  before  the 
coach  was  checked.  Beverly,  looking  from  the  win 
dows,  had  seen  the  lighted  windows  of  cottages  grow 
ing  closer  and  closer  together.  The  barking  of  road 
side  dogs  was  the  only  sound  that  could  be  heard  above 
the  rattle  of  the  wheels.  It  was  too  dark  inside  the 
coach  to  see  the  face  of  the  man  beside  her,  but  some 
thing  told  her  that  he  was  staring  intently  into  the 


90         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

night,  alert  and  anxious.  The  responsibility  of  her 
position  swooped  down  upon  her  like  an  avalanche  as 
she  thought  of  what  the  next  few  minutes  were  to 
bring  forth.  It  was  the  sudden  stopping  of  the  coach 
and  the  sharp  commands  from  the  outside  that  told  her 
probation  was  at  an  end.  She  could  no  longer  specu 
late  ;  it  was  high  time  to  act. 

"  The  outpost,"  came  from  Baldos,  in  strained 
tones. 

"  Perhaps  they  won't  know  us  —  3"ou,  I  mean,"  she 
whispered. 

"  Baron  Dangloss  knows  everybody,"  he  replied  bit 
terly. 

"  What  a  horrid  old  busy-body  he  —  '  she 
started  to  say,  but  thought  better  of  it. 

A  couple  of  lanterns  flashed  at  the  window,  almost 
blinding  her.  Aunt  Fanny  groaned  audibly,  but  the 
figure  of  Baldos  seemed  to  stiffen  with  defiance.  Uni 
formed  men  peered  into  the  interior  with  more  rude 
ness  and  curiosity  than  seemed  respectful  to  a  princess, 
to  say  the  least.  They  saw  a  pretty,  pleading  face, 
with  wide  gray  eyes  and  parted  lips,  but  they  did  not 
bow  in  humble  submission  as  Baldos  had  expected. 
One  of  the  men,  evidently  in  command,  addressed  Bev 
erly  in  rough  but  polite  tones.  It  was  a  question  that 
he  asked,  she  knew,  but  she  could  not  answer  him,  for 
she  could  not  understand  him. 

"  What  do  you  want?  "  she  put  in  English,  with  a 
creditable  display  of  dignity. 

"  He  does  not  speak  English,  your  highness,"  vol- 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES  91 

unteercd  Baldos,  in  a  voice  so  well  disguised  that  it 
startled  her.     The  officer  was  staring  blankly  at  her. 

"  Every  officer  in  my  army  should  and  must  learn 
to  speak  English,"  she  said,  at  her  wits'  end.  "  I  de 
cline  to  be  questioned  by  the  fellow.  Will  you  talk  to 
him  in  my  stead?  " 

"  I,  your  highness  ?  "  he  cried  in  dismay. 
"  Yes.     Tell  him  who  we  are  and  ask  where  the  hos 
pital  is,"  she  murmured,  sinking  back  with  the  air  of  a 
queen,  but  with  the  inward  feeling  that  all  was  lost. 

"  But  I  don't  speak  your  language  well,"  he  pro 
tested. 

"  You  speak  it  beautifully,"  she  said.  Baldos 
leaned  forward  painfully  and  spoke  to  the  officer  in 
the  Graustark  tongue. 

"  Don't  you  know  your  princess?  "  he  demanded,  a 
trifle  harshly.  The  man's  eyes  flew  wide  open  in  an 
instant  and  his  jaw  dropped. 

"  Th  —  the  princess  ?  "  he  gasped. 
"  Don't  stare  like  that,  sir.     Direct  us  to  the  main 
gate  at  once,  or  you  will  have  cause  to  regret  your 
slowness." 

"  But  the  princess  was  —  is  coming  by  the  northern 
pass,"  mumbled  the  man.  "  The  guard  has  gone  out 
to  meet  her  and  —  Baldos  cut  him  off  shortly 

with  the  information  that  the  princess,  as  he  could  see, 
had  come  by  the  lower  pass  and  that  she  was  eager  to 
reach  a  resting-place  at  once.  The  convincing  tone 
of  the  speaker  and  the  regal  indifference  of  the  lady 
had  full  effect  upon  the  officer,  who  had  never  seen  her 
highness.  He  fell  back  with  a  deep  obeisance,  and 


92         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

gave  a  few  bewildered  commands  to  his  men.  The 
coach  moved  off,  attended  by  a  party  of  foot-soldiers, 
and  Beverly  breathed  her  first  sigh  of  relief. 

"  You  did  it  beautifully,"  she  whispered  to  Baldos, 
and  he  was  considerably  puzzled  by  the  ardor  of  her 
praise.  "  Where  are  we  going  now?  "  slie  asked. 

"  Into  the  city,  your  highness,"  he  answered.  It 
was  beginning  to  dawn  upon  him  that  she  was  amaz 
ingly  ignorant  and  inconsequential  for  one  who  en 
joyed  the  right  to  command  these  common  soldiers. 
Her  old  trepidation  returned  with  this  brief  answer. 
Something  told  her  that  he  was  beginning  to  mistrust 
her  at  last.  After  all,  it  meant  everything  to  him  and 
so  little  to  her. 

When  the  coach  halted  before  the  city  gates  she 
was  in  a  dire  state  of  unhappincss.  In  the  darkness 
she  could  feel  the  reproachful  eyes  of  old  Aunt  Fanny 
searching  for  her  abandoned  conscience. 

"  Ask  if  Baron  Dangloss  is  in  Ganlook,  and,  if  he 
is,  command  them  to  take  me  to  him  immediately,"  she 
whispered  to  Baldos,  a  sudden  inspiration  seizing  her. 
She  would  lay  the  whole  matter  before  the  great  chief 
of  police,  and  trust  to  fortune.  Her  hand  fell  im 
pulsively  upon  his  and,  to  her  amazement,  it  was  as 
cold  as  ice.  "What  is  the  matter?"  she  cried  in 
alarm. 

"  You  trusted  me  in  the  wilds,  your  highness,"  he 
said  tensely ;  "  I  am  trusting  you  now."  Before  she 
could  reply  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Ganlook  gates 
appeared  at  the  coach  window.  There  were  lights  on 
all  sides.  Her  heart  sank  like  lead.  It  would  be  a 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES    93 

miracle  if  she  passed  the  gates  unrecognized. 

"  I  must  see  Baron  Dangloss  at  once,"  she  cried  in 
English,  utterly  disdaining  her  instructions  to  Baldos. 

"  The  baron  is  engaged  at  present  and  can  see  no 
one,"  responded  the  good-looking  young  officer  in 
broken  English. 

"  Where  is  he?  "  she  demanded    nervously . 

"  He  is  at  the  home  of  Colonel  Goaz,  the  com 
mandant.  What  is  your  business  with  him?  " 

"  It  is  with  him  and  not  with  you,  sir,"  she  said, 
imperious  once  more.  "  Conduct  me  to  him  imme 
diately." 

"  You  cannot  enter  the  gates  unless  you  — 

"  Insolence !  "  exclaimed  Baldos.  "  Is  this  the  way, 
sir,  in  which  you  address  the  princess  ?  Make  way  for 
her." 

"  The  princess !  "  gasped  the  officer.  Then  a  pecul 
iar  smile  overspread  his  face.  He  had  served  three 
years  in  the  Castle  Guard  at  Edelweiss !  There  was  a 
long  pause  fraught  with  disaster  for  Beverly.  "  Yes, 
perhaps  it  is  just  as  well  that  we  conduct  her  to  Baron 
Dangloss,"  he  said  at  last.  The  deep  meaning  in  his 
voice  appealed  only  to  the  unhappy  girl.  "  There 
shall  be  no  further  delay,  your  highness!  "  he  added 
mockingly.  A  moment  later  the  gates  swung  open 
and  they  passed  through.  Beverly  alone  knew  that 
they  were  going  to  Baron  Dangloss  under  heavy 
guard,  virtually  as  prisoners.  The  man  knew  her  to 
be  an  impostor  and  was  doing  only  his  dut}-. 

There  were  smiles  of  derision  on  the  faces  of  the 
soldiers  when  Beverly  swept  proudly  between  the  files 


94          BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTAHK 

and  up  the  steps  leading  to  the  commandant's  door, 
but  there  were  no  audible  remarks.  Baldos  followed, 
walking  painfully  but  defiantly,  and  Aunt  Fanny 
came  last  with  the  handbag.  The  guards  grinned 
broadly  as  the  corpulent  ncgrcss  waddled  up  the  steps. 
The  young  officer  and  two  men  entered  the  door  with 
the  wayfarers,  who  were  ordered  to  halt  in  the  hall 
way. 

"  Will  your  highness  come  with  me  ?  "  said  the  offi 
cer,  returning  to  the  hall  after  a  short  absence.  There 
was  unmistakable  derision  in  his  voice  and  palpable 
insolence  in  his  manner.  Beverly  flushed  angrily. 
"  Baron  Dangloss  is  very  curious  to  see  you,"  he 
added,  with  a  smile.  Nevertheless,  he  shrank  a  bit 
beneath  the  cold  gleam  in  the  eyes  of  the  impostor. 

"  You  will  remain  here,"  she  said,  turning  to  Baldos 
and  the  ncgress.  "  And  you  will  have  nothing  what 
ever  to  say  to  this  very  important  young  man."  The 
"  important  young  man  "  actually  chuckled. 

"  Follow  me,  your  most  royal  highness,"  he  said, 
preceding  her  through  the  door  that  opened  into  the 
office  of  the  commandant.  Baldos  glared  after  them 
in  angry  amazement. 

"  Young  man,  some  day  and  soon  you  will  be  a 
much  wiser  soldier  and,  in  the  ranks,"  said  Beverly 
hotty.  The  smile  instantly  receded  from  the  insolent 
fellow's  face,  for  there  Avas  a  world  of  prophecy  in 
the  way  she  said  it.  Somehow,  he  was  in  a  much  more 
respectful  humor  when  he  returned  to  the  hall  and 
stood  in  the  presence  of  the  tall,  flushed  stranger  with 
the  ragged  uniform. 


THROUGH    THE    GANLOOK    GATES    95 

A  short,  fierce  little  man  in  the  picturesque  uniform 
of  a  Graustark  officer  arose  as  Beverly  entered  the 
office.  His  short  beard  bristled  as  though  it  were  con 
cealing  a  smile,  but  his  manner  was  polite,  even  defer 
ential.  She  advanced  fearlessly  toward  him,  a  way 
ward  smile  struggling  into  her  face. 

"  I  daresay  you  know  I  am  riot  the  princess,"  she 
said  composedly.  Every  vestige  of  fear  was  gone 
now  that  she  had  reached  the  line  of  battle.  The 
doughty  baron  looked  somewhat  surprised  at  this 
frank  way  of  opening  the  interview. 

"  I  am  quite  well  aware  of  it,"  he  said  politely. 

"  They  say  you  know  everyone,  Baron  Dangloss," 
she  boldly  said.  "  Pray,  who  am  I?  " 

The  powerful  official  looked  at  the  smiling  face  for 
a  moment,  his  bushy  eyebrows  contracting  ever  so 
slightly.  There  was  a  shameless  streak  of  dust  across 
her  check,  but  there  was  also  a  dimple  there  that  ap 
pealed  to  the  grim  old  man.  His  eyes  twinkled  as  he 
replied,  with  fine  obsequiousness : 

"  You  are  Miss  Beverly  Calhoun,  of  Washington." 


CHAPTER  IX 


THE  REDOUBTABLE  DAN  GLOSS 

EVERLY'S  eyes  showed  her  astonish 
ment.  Baron  Dangloss  courteously 
placed  a  chair  for  her  and  asked  her 
to  be  seated. 

"  We  were  expecting  you,  Miss  Cal- 
houn,"     he     explained.      "  Her     royal 
highness  left  St.  Petersburg  but  a  few  hours  after 
your  departure,  having  unfortunately  missed  you." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  the  princess  tried  to 
find  me  in  St.  Petersburg?  "  cried  Beverly,  in  wonder 
and  delight. 

"  That  was  one  of  the  purposes  of  her  visit,"  said 
he  brusquely. 

"  Oh,  how  jolly!"  cried  she,  her  gray  eyes  spark 
ling.  The  grim  old  captain  was  startled  for  the 
smallest  fraction  of  a  minute,  but  at  once  fell  to  ad 
miring  the  fresh,  eager  face  of  the  visitor. 

"  The  public  at  large  is  under  the  impression  that 
she  visited  the  Czar  on  matters  of  importance,**  he 
said,  with  a  condescending  smile. 

"  And  it  really  was  of  no  importance  at  all,  that's 
what  you  mean  ?  "  she  smiled  back  securely. 

96 


THE  REDOUBTABLE  DANGLOSS  97 

"  Your  message  informing  her  highness  of  your 
presence  in  St.  Petersburg  had  no  sooner  arrived  than 
she  set  forth  to  meet  you  in  that  city,  much  against 
the  advice  of  her  counsellors.  I  will  admit  that  she 
had  other  business  there  but  it  could  have  waited. 
You  see,  Miss  Calhoun,  it  was  a  great  risk  at  this  par 
ticular  time.  Misfortune  means  disaster  now.  But 
Providence  was  her  friend.  She  arrived  safely  in 
Ganlook  not  an  hour  since." 

"Really?  Oh,  Baron  Dangloss,  where  is  she?" 
excitedly  cried  the  American  girl. 

"  For  the  night  she  is  stopping  with  the  Countess 
Rallowitz.  A  force  of  men,  but  not  those  whom  you 
met  at  the  gates,  has  just  been  dispatched  at  her  com 
mand  to  search  for  you  in  the  lower  pass.  You  took 
the  most  dangerous  road,  Miss  Calhoun,  and  I  am 
amazed  that  you  came  through  in  safety." 

"  The  Russians  chose  the  lower  pass,  I  know  not 
why.  Of  course,  I  was  quite  ignorant.  However,  we 
met  neither  brigands  nor  soldiers,  Axphain  or  Grau- 
stark.  I  encountered  nothing  more  alarming  than  a 
mountain  lion.  And  that,  Baron  Dangloss,  recalls 
me  to  the  sense  of  a  duty  I  have  been  neglecting.  A 
poor  wanderer  in  the  hills  defended  me  against  the 
beast  and  was  badly  wounded.  He  must  be  taken  to 
a  hospital  at  once,  sir,  where  he  may  have  the  proper 
care." 

Whereupon,  at  his  request,  she  hurriedly  related  the 
story  of  that  trying  journey  through  the  mountains, 
not  forgetting  to  paint  the  courage  of  Baldos  in  most 
glowing  colors.  The  chief  was  deeply  interested  in 


98         BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

the  story  of  the  goat-hunter  and  his  party.  There 
was  an  odd  gleam  of  satisfaction  in  his  eyes,  but  she 
did  not  observe  it. 

"  You  will  see  that  he  has  immediate  attention, 
won't  you?"  she  implored  in  the  end. 

"  He  shall  have  our  deepest  consideration,"  prom 
ised  he. 

"  You  know  I  am  rather  interested,  because  I  shot 
him,  just  as  if  it  were  not  enough  that  his  legs  were 
being  torn  by  the  brute  at  the  time.  He  ought  not 
to  walk,  Baron  Dangloss.  If  you  don't  mind,  I'd 
suggest  an  ambulance,"  she  hurried  on  glibly.  He 
could  not  conceal  the  smile  that  her  eagerness  in 
spired.  "  Really,  he  is  in  a  serious  condition.  I  think 
he  needs  some  quinine  and  whiskey,  too,  and  — 

"  He  shall  have  the  best  of  care,"  interrupted  the 
captain.  "  Leave  him  to  me,  Miss  Calhoun." 

"  Now,  let  me  tell  you  something,"  said  she,  after 
due  reflection.  "  You  must  not  pay  any  attention  to 
what  he  says.  He  is  liable  to  be  delirious  and  talk  in 
a  terrible  sort  of  way.  You  know  delirious  people 
never  talk  rationally."  She  was  loyally  trying  to  pro 
tect  Baldos,  the  hunted,  against  any  incriminating 
statements  he  might  make. 

"  Quite  right,  Miss  Calhoun,"  said  the  baron 
very  gravely. 

"  And  now,  I'd  like  to  go  to  the  princess,"  said 
Beverly,  absolutely  sure  of  herself.  "  You  know  we 
are  great  friends,  she  and  I." 

"  I  have  sent  a  messenger  to  announce  your  arrival. 


THE  REDOUBTABLE  DANGLOSS   99 

She  will  expect  you."  Beverly  looked  about  the  room 
in  perplexity. 

"  But  there  has  been  no  messenger  here,"  she  said. 

"  He  left  here  some  minutes  before  you  came.  I 
knew  who  it  was  that  came  knocking  at  our  gates, 
even  though  she  traveled  as  Princess  Yetive  of  Grau- 
stark." 

"  And,  oh !  that  reminds  me,  Baron  Dangloss, 
Baldos  still  believes  me  to  be  the  princess.  Is  it  neces 
sary  to  —  to  tell  him  the  truth  about  me  ?  Just  at 
present,  I  mean?  I'm  sure  he'll  rest  much  easier  if  he 
doesn't  know  differently." 

"  So  far  as  I  am  concerned,  Miss  Calhoun,  he  shall 
always  regard  you  as  a  queen,"  said  Dangloss  gal 
lantly. 

"  Thank  you.     It's  very  nice  of  you  to  — 

A  man  in  uniform  entered  after  knocking  at  the 
door  of  the  room.  He  saluted  his  superior  and  uttered 
a  few  words  in  his  own  language. 

"  Her  royal  highness  is  awaiting  you  at  the  home 
of  the  countess,  Miss  Calhoun.  A  detail  of  men  will 
escort  you  and  your  servant  to  her  place." 

"  Now,  please,  Baron  Dangloss,"  pleaded  Beverly 
at  the  door,  "  be  nice  to  him.  You  know  it  hurts  him 
to  walk.  Can't  you  have  him  carried  in?  " 

"  If  he  will  consent,"  said  he  quietly.  Beverly  hur 
ried  into  the  outer  room,  after  giving  the  baron  a 
smile  he  never  forgot.  Baldos  looked  up  eagerly, 
anxiously. 

"  It's  all  right,"  she  said  in  low  tones,  pausing  for 
a  moment  beside  his  chair.  "  Don't  get  up !  Good- 


100       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

bye.  I'll  come  to  see  you  to-morrow.  Don't  be  in  the 
least  disturbed.  Baron  Dangloss  has  his  instructions." 
Impulsively  giving  him  her  hand  which  he  respect 
fully  raised  to  his  lips,  she  followed  Aunt  Fanny  and 
was  gone. 

Almost  immediately  Baldos  was  requested  to  present 
himself  before  Baron  Dangloss  in  the  adjoining  room. 
Refusing  to  be  carried  in,  he  resolutely  strode  through 
the  door  and  stood  before  the  grim  old  captain  of 
police,  an  easy,  confident  smile  on  his  face.  The 
blr  -It  patch  once  more  covered  his  eye  with  defiant 
assertiveness. 

"  They  tell  me  you  are  Baldos,  a  goat-hunter," 
said  Baron  Dangloss,  eyeing  him  keenly. 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  were  hurt  in  defending  one  who  is  of 
much  consequence  in  Graustark.  Sit  down,  my  good 
fellow."  Baldos'  eyes  gleamed  coldly  for  an  instant. 
Then  he  sank  into  a  chair.  "  While  admitting  that 
you  have  done  Graustark  a  great  service,  I  am  obliged 
to  tell  you  that  I,  at  least,  know  you  to  be  other  than 
what  you  say.  You  are  not  a  goat-hunter,  and  Baldos 
is  not  your  name.  Am  I  not  right  ?  " 

"  You  have  had  instructions  from  your  sovereign, 
Baron  Dangloss.  Did  they  include  a  command  to 
cross-question  me?"  asked  Baldos  haughtily.  Dan- 
gloss  hesitated  for  a  full  minute. 

"  They  did  not.  I  take  the  liberty  of  inquiring  on 
my  own  responsibility." 

"  Very  well,  sir.     Until  you  have  a  right  to  qucs- 


THE    REDOUBTABLE    DANGLOSS    101 

tion  me,  I  am  Baldos  and  a  goat-hunter.  I  think  I 
am  here  to  receive  surgical  treatment." 

"  You  decline  to  tell  me  anything  concerning  your 
self?" 

"  Only  that  I  am  injured  and  need  relief." 

"  Perhaps  I  know  more  about  you  than  you  sus 
pect,  sir." 

"  I  am  not  in  the  least  interested,  Baron  Dangloss, 
in  what  you  know.  The  princess  brought  me  into 
Ganlook,  and  I  have  her  promise  of  help  and  protec 
tion  while  here.  That  is  all  I  have  to  say,  except  that 
I  have  implicit  faith  in  her  word." 

Dangloss  sat  watching  him  in  silence  for  some  time. 
No  one  but  himself  knew  what  was  going  on  in  that 
shrewd,  speculative  mind.  At  length  he  arose  and 
approached  the  proud  fellow  in  rags. 

"  You  have  earned  every  consideration  at  our 
hands.  My  men  will  take  you  to  the  hospital  and  you 
shall  have  the  best  of  care.  You  have  served  our 
princess  well.  To-morrow  you  may  feel  inclined  to 
talk  more  freely  with  me,  for  I  am  your  friend, 
Baldos." 

"  I  am  grateful  for  that,  Baron  Dangloss,"  said 
the  other  simply.  Then  he  was  led  away  and  a  com 
fortable  cot  in  the  Ganlook  hospital  soon  held  his 
long,  feverish  frame,  while  capable  hands  took  care 
of  his  wounds.  He  did  not  know  it,  but  two  fully 
armed  soldiers  maintained  a  careful  guard  outside  his 
door  under  instructions  from  the  head  of  the  police. 
Moreover,  a  picked  detail  of  men  sallied  forth  into  the 
lower  pass  in  search  of  the  goat-hunter's  followers. 


102        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

In  the  meantime  Beverly  was  conducted  to  the  home 
of  the  Countess  Rallowitz.  Her  meeting  with  the 
princess  was  most  affectionate.  There  were  tears, 
laughter  and  kisses.  The  whole  atmosphere  of  the 
place  suggested  romance  to  the  eager  American  girl. 
Downstairs  were  the  royal  guards;  in  the  halls  were 
attendants;  all  about  were  maidservants  and  obse 
quious  lackeys,  crowding  the  home  of  the  kindly 
countess.  At  last,  comfortable  and  free  from  the  dust 
of  travel,  the  two  friends  sat  down  to  a  dainty  meal. 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  delighted,"  murmured  Beverly  for 
the  hundredth  time. 

"  I'm  appalled  when  I  think  of  the  dangers  you  in 
curred  in  coming  to  me.  No  one  but  a  very  foolish 
American  girl  could  have  undertaken  such  a  trip  as 
this.  Dear  me,  Beverly,  I  should  have  died  if  any 
thing  dreadful  had  happened  to  you.  Why  did  you 
do  it?"  questioned  the  princess.  And  then  they 
laughed  joyously. 

"  And  you  went  all  the  way  to  St.  Petersburg  to 
meet  me,  you  dear,  dear  Yetive,"  cried  Beverly,  so 
warmly  that  the  attentive  servant  forgot  his  mask  of 
reverence. 

"  Wasn't  it  ridiculous  of  me  ?  I  know  Gren  would 
have  forbidden  it  if  he  had  been  in  Edelweiss  when  I 
started.  And,  more  shame  to  me,  the  poor  fellow  is 
doubtless  at  the  conference  with  Dawsbergen,  utterly 
ignorant  of  my  escapade.  You  should  have  heard  the 
ministry  —  er  —  ah  —  '  and  the  princess  paused 
for  an  English  word. 

"  Kick  ?  "  Beverly  supplied. 


THE    REDOUBTABLE    DANGLOSS     103 

"  Yes.  They  objected  violently.  And,  do  you 
know,  I  was  finally  compelled  to  issue  a  private  edict 
to  restrain  them  from  sending  an  appeal  to  Grenfall 
away  off  there  on  the  frontier.  Whether  or  no,  my 
uncle  insisted  that  he  should  be  brought  home,  a  three- 
days'  journey,  in  order  that  he  might  keep  me  from 
going  to  St.  Petersburg.  Of  course,  they  could  not 
disobey  my  edict,  and  so  poor  Gren  is  none  the  wiser, 
unless  he  has  returned  from  the  conference.  If  he  has, 
I  am  sure  he  is  on  the  way  to  Ganlook  at  this  very 
minute." 

"  What  a  whimsical  ruler  you  are,"  cried  Beverly. 
"  Upsetting  everything  sensible  just  to  rush  off  hun 
dreds  of  miles  to  meet  me.  And  Axphain  is  trying  to 
capture  you,  too !  Goodness,  you  must  love  me !  " 

"  Oh,  but  I  did  have  a  trifling  affair  of  state  to  lay 
before  the  Czar,  my  dear.  To-morrow  we  shall  be  safe 
and  sound  in  the  castle  and  it  will  all  be  very  much 
worth  while.  You  see,  Beverly,  dear,  even  princesses 
enjoy  a  diversion  now  and  then.  One  wouldn't  think 
anything  of  this  adventure  in  the  United  States ;  it  is 
the  environment  that  makes  it  noticeable.  Besides, 
you  traveled  as  a  princess.  How  did  you  like  it?  " 

And  then  the  conversation  related  particularly  to 
the  advantages  of  royalty  as  viewed  from  one  side  and 
the  disadvantages  as  regarded  from  another.  For  a 
long  time  Beverly  had  been  wondering  how  she  should 
proceed  in  the  effort  to  secure  absolute  clemency  for 
Baldos.  As  yet  she  had  said  nothing  to  Yetive  of 
her  promise  to  him,  made  while  she  was  a  princess. 

"  At  any  rate,  I'm  sure  the  goat-hunters  would  not 


104       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

have  been  so  faithful  and  true  if  they  had  not  be 
lieved  me  to  be  a  princess,"  said  Beverly,  paving  the 
way.  "  You  haven't  a  man  in  your  kingdom  who 
could  be  more  chivalrous  than  Baldos." 

"  If  he  is  that  kind  of  a  man,  he  would  treat  any 
woman  as  gently." 

"  You  should  have  heard  him  call  me  '  your  high 
ness,'  "  cried  Beverly.  "  He  will  loathe  me  if  he  ever 
learns  that  I  deceived  him." 

"  Oh,  I  think  he  deceived  himself,"  spoke  Yetive 
easily.  "  Besides,  you  look  as  much  like  a  princess 
as  I." 

"  There  is  something  I  want  to  speak  very  seriously 
about  to  you,  Yetive,"  said  Beverly,  making  ready 
for  the  cast.  "  You  see,  he  did  not  want  to  enter  Gan- 
look  with  me,  but  I  insisted.  He  had  been  so  brave 
and  gallant,  and  he  was  suffering  so  intensely.  It 
would  have  been  criminal  in  me  to  leave  him  out  there 
in  the  wilderness,  wouldn't  it?  " 

"  It  would  have  been  heartless." 

"  So  I  just  made  him  come  along.  That  was  right, 
wasn't  it  ?  That's  what  you  would  have  done,  no  mat 
ter  who  he  was  or  what  his  objections  might  have  been. 
Well,  you  sec,  it's  this  way,  Yetive:  he  is  some  sort  of 
a  fugitive  —  not  a  criminal,  you  know  —  but  just 
some  one  they  are  hunting  for,  I  don't  know  why.  He 
wouldn't  tell  me.  That  was  perfectly  right,  if  he  felt 
that  way,  wasn't  it  ?  " 

"  And  he  had  fought  a  lion  in  your  defense,"  sup 
plemented  Yetive,  with  a  schoolgirl's  ardor. 

"  And  I  had  shot  him  in  the  arm,  too,"  added  Bev- 


THE    REDOUBTABLE    DANGLOSS      105 

erly.  "  So  of  course,  I  just  had  to  be  reasonable.  In 
order  to  induce  him  to  come  with  me  to  a  hospital,  I 
was  obliged  to  guarantee  perfect  safety  to  him.  His 
men  went  back  to  the  hills,  all  except  old  Franz,  the 
driver.  Now,  the  trouble  is  this,  Yetive :  I  am  not  the 
princess  and  I  cannot  redeem  a  single  promise  I  made 
to  him.  He  is  helpless,  and  if  anything  goes  wrong 
with  him  he  will  hate  me  forever." 

"  No ;  he  will  hate  me,  for  I  am  the  princess  and  he 
is  none  the  wiser." 

"  But  he  will  be  told  that  his  princess  was  Beverly 
Calhoun,  a  supposedly  nice  American  girl.  Don't 
you  see  how  awkward  it  will  be  for  me  ?  Now,  Yetive, 
darling,  what  I  wish  you  to  do  is  to  write  a  note, 
order  or  edict  or  whatever  it  is  to  Baron  Dangloss, 
commanding  him  to  treat  Baldos  as  a  patient  and  not 
as  a  prisoner;  and  that  when  he  is  fully  recovered  he 
is  to  have  the  privilege  of  leaving  Ganlook  without 
reservation." 

"  But  he  may  be  a  desperate  offender  against  the 
state,  Beverly,"  plaintively  protested  Yetive.  "  If 
we  only  knew  what  he  is  charged  with ! " 

"  I'm  afraid  it's  something  dreadfully  serious,"  ad 
mitted  Beverly  gloomily.  "  He  doesn't  look  like  the 
sort  of  man  who  would  engage  in  a  petty  undertaking. 
I'll  tell  you  his  story,  just  as  he  told  it  to  me,"  and 
she  repeated  the  meagre  confessions  of  Baldos. 

"  I  see  no  reason  why  we  should  hesitate,"  said  the 
princess.  "  By  his  own  statement,  he  is  not  a  desper 
ate  criminal.  You  did  quite  right  in  promising  him 


106       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

protection,  dear,  and  I  shall  sustain  you.  Do  you 
want  to  play  the  princess  to  Baldos  a  little  longer?  " 

"  I  should  love  it,"  cried  Beverly,  her  eyes  spark 
ling. 

"  Then  I  shall  write  the  order  to  Dangloss  at  once. 
Oh,  dear,  I  have  forgotten,  I  have  no  official  seal 
here." 

"  Couldn't  you  seal  it  with  your  ring?  "  suggested 
Beverly.  "  Oh,  I  have  it !  Send  for  Baron  Dan- 
gloss  and  have  him  Avitness  your  signature.  He  can't 
get  away  from  that,  you  see,  and  after  we  reach 
Edelweiss,  you  can  fix  up  a  regular  edict,  seal  and 
all,"  cried  the  resourceful  American  girl. 

Ink  and  paper  were  sent  for  and  the  two  conspir 
ators  lent  their  wisdom  to  the  task  of  preparing  an 
order  for  the  salvation  of  Baldos,  the  fugitive.  The 
order  read: 

To    BARON   JASTO    DANGLOSS,  COMMANDING    THE  Civic  AND  MILI 
TARY  POLICE  OF  GRAUSTARK  : 

"  You  are  hereby  informed  that  Baldos,  the  man  who  entered 
the  city  with  Miss  Calhoun,  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  prisoner 
now  or  hereafter.  He  is  to  be  given  capable  medical  and  surgical 
attention  until  fully  recovered,  when  he  is  to  be  allowed  to  go  his 
way  in  peace  unquestioned. 

"Also,  he  is  to  be  provided  with  suitable  wearing  apparel  and 
made  comfortable  in  every  way. 

"Also,  the  members  of  his  party,  now  in  the  hills  (whose 
names  are  unknown  to  me),  are  to  be  accorded  every  protection. 
Franz,  the  driver,  is  to  have  his  freedom  if  he  desires  it. 

"  And  from  this  edict  there  is  no  recourse  until  its  abatement 
by  royal  decree. 

"  YETIVE." 

"  There,"  said  the  princess,  affixing  her  signature. 


THE    REDOUBTABLE    DANGLOSS     107 

"  I  think  that  will  be  sufficient."  Then  she  rang  for 
a  servant.  "  Send  to  Baron  Dangloss  and  ask  him  to 
come  here  at  once." 

Fifteen  minutes  later  the  chief  of  police  stood  in 
the  presence  of  the  eager  young  interpreters  of  jus 
tice. 

"  I  want  you  to  witness  my  signature,  Baron  Dan- 
gloss,"  said  the  princess  after  the  greetings. 

"  Gladly,"  said  the  officer. 

"  Well,  here  is  where  I  signed,"  said  Yetive,  hand 
ing  him  the  paper.  "  I  don't  have  to  write  my  name 
over  again,  do  I?" 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  the  baron  gallantly.  And  he 
boldly  signed  his  name  as  a  witness. 

"They  wouldn't  do  that  in  the  United  States," 
murmured  Beverly,  who  knew  something  about  red 
tape  at  Washington. 

"  It  is  a  command  to  you,  baron,"  said  Yetive, 
handing  him  the  document  with  a  rare  smile.  He  read 
it  through  slowly.  Then  he  bit  his  lip  and  coughed. 
"  What  is  the  matter,  baron  ? "  asked  Yetive,  still 
smiling. 

"  A  transitory  emotion,  your  highness,  that  is  all," 
said  he ;  but  his  hand  trembled  as  he  folded  the  paper. 


CHAPTER  X 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS 

RIGHT  and  early  the  next  morning, 
the  party  was  ready  for  the  last  of  the 
journey  to  Edelweiss.  Less  than 
twenty  miles  separated  Ganlook  from 
the  capital,  and  the  road  was  in  excel 
lent  condition.  Beverly  Calhoun,  tired 
and  contented,  had  slept  soundly  until  aroused  by 
the  princess  herself.  Their  rooms  adjoined  each 
other,  and  when  Yetive,  shortly  after  daybreak, 
stole  into  the  American  girl's  chamber,  Beverly  was 
sleeping  so  sweetly  that  the  intruder  would  have  re 
treated  had  it  not  been  for  the  boisterous  shouts  of 
stable-boys  in  the  courtyard  below  the  windows.  She 
hurried  to  a  window  and  looked  out  upon  the  gray- 
cloaked  morning.  Postillions  and  stable-boys  were 
congregated  near  the  gates,  tormenting  a  ragged  old 
man  who  stood  with  his  back  against  one  of  the  huge 
posts.  In  some  curiosity,  she  called  Beverly  from 
her  slumbers,  urging  the  sleepy  one  to  hasten  to  the 
window. 

"  Is  this  one  of  your  friends  from  the  wilderness?  " 
she  asked. 

108 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS    109 

"  It's  Franz !  "  cried  Beverly,  rubbing  her  pretty 
eyes.  Then  she  became  thoroughly  awake.  "  What 
are  they  doing  to  him  ?  Who  are  those  ruffians  ?  "  she 
demanded  indignantly. 

"  They  are  my  servants,  and  — 

"  Shame  on  them !  The  wretches !  What  has  old 
Franz  done  that  they  should  —  —  Call  to  them !  Tell 
'cm  you'll  cut  their  heads  off  if  they  don't  stop.  He's 
a  dear  old  fellow  in  spite  of  his  rags,  and  he " 

The  window-sash  flew  open  and  the  tormentors  in 
the  court  below  were  astonished  by  the  sound  of  a 
woman's  voice,  coining,  as  it  were,  from  the  clouds. 
A  dozen  pairs  of  eyes  were  turned  upward;  the  com 
motion  ended  suddenly.  In  the  window  above  stood 
two  graceful,  white-robed  figures.  The  sun,  still 
far  below  the  ridge  of  mountains,  had  not  yet  robbed 
the  morning  of  the  gray,  dewy  shadows  that  belong  to 
five  o'clock. 

"  What  are  you  doing  to  that  poor  old  man  ?  " 
cried  Yetivc,  and  it  was  the  first  time  any  of  them  had 
seen  anger  in  the  princess's  face.  They  slunk  back 
in  dismay.  "  Let  him  alone !  You,  Gartz,  see  that 
he  has  food  and  drink,  and  without  delay.  Report  to 
me  later  on,  sir,  and  explain,  if  you  can,  why  you 
have  conducted  yourselves  in  so  unbecoming  a  man 
ner."  Then  the  window  was  closed  and  the  princess 
found  herself  in  the  warm  arms  of  her  friend. 

"  I  couldn't  understand  a  word  you  said,  Yctive, 
but  I  knew  you  were  giving  it  to  them  hot  and  heavy. 
Did  you  see  how  nicely  old  Franz  bowed  to  you? 
Goodness,  his  head  almost  touched  the  ground." 


110       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  He  was  bowing  to  you,  Beverly.  You  forgot 
that  you  are  the  princess  to  him." 

"  Isn't  that  funny  ?  I  had  quite  forgotten  it  — • 
the  poor  old  goose." 

Later,  when  the  coaches  and  escort  were  drawn 
up  in  front  of  the  Rallowitz  palace  ready  for  the 
start,  the  princess  called  the  chief  postillion,  Gartz, 
to  the  step  of  her  coach. 

"  What  was  the  meaning  of  the  disturbance  I  wit 
nessed  this  morning?  "  she  demanded. 

Gartz  hung  his  head.  "  We  thought  the  man  was 
crazy,  your  highness.  He  had  been  telling  us  such 
monstrous  lies,"  he  mumbled. 

"  Are  you  sure  they  were  lies  ?  " 

"  Oh,  quite  sure,  your  highness.  They  were  laugh 
able.  He  said,  for  one  thing,  that  it  was  he  who 
drove  your  highness's  coach  into  Ganlook  last  even 
ing,  when  everybody  knows  that  I  had  full  charge  of 
the  coach  and  horses." 

"  You  are  very  much  mistaken,  Gartz,"  she  said, 
distinctly.  He  blinked  his  eyes. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  gasped,  "  you  surely  remem 
ber  " 

"  Enough,  sir.  Franz  drove  the  princess  into  Gan 
look  last  night.  He  says  so  himself,  does  he  not?  " 

"  Yes,  your  highness,"  murmured  poor  Gartz. 

"  What  more  did  he  say  to  you  ?  " 

"  He  said  he  had  come  from  his  master,  who  is 
in  the  hospital,  to  inquire  after  your  health  and  to 
bear  his  thanks  for  the  kindnesses  you  have  secured 
for  him.  He  says  his  master  is  faring  well  and  is 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS    111 

satisfied  to  remain  where  he  is.  Also,  he  said  that 
his  master  was  sending  him  back  into  the  mountains 
to  assure  his  friends  that  he  is  safe  and  to  bear  a  cer 
tain  message  of  cheer  to  them,  sent  forth  by  the 
princess.  It  was  all  so  foolish  and  crazy,  your  high 
ness,  that  we  could  but  jibe  and  laugh  at  the  poor 
creature." 

"  It  is  you  who  have  been  foolish,  sir.  Send  the  old 
man  to  me." 

"  He  has  gone,  your  highness,"  in  frightened  tones. 

"  So  much  the  better,"  said  the  princess,  dismissing 
him  with  a  wave  of  the  hand.  Gartz  went  away  in  a 
daze,  and  for  days  he  took  every  opportunity  to  look 
for  other  signs  of  mental  disorder  in  the  conduct  of 
his  mistress,  at  the  same  time  indulging  in  specula 
tion  as  to  his  own  soundness  of  mind. 

Ganlook's  population  lined  the  chief  thoroughfare, 
awaiting  the  departure  of  the  princess,  although  the 
hour  was  early.  Beverly  peered  forth  curiously  as 
the  coach  moved  off.  The  quaint,  half-oriental  cos 
tumes  of  the  townspeople,  the  odd  little  children,  the 
bright  colors,  the  perfect  love  and  reverence  that 
shone  in  the  faces  of  the  multitude  impressed  her 
deeply.  She  was  never  to  forget  that  picturesque 
morning.  Baron  Dangloss  rode  beside  the  coach  until 
it  passed  through  the  southern  gates  and  into  the 
countryside.  A  company  of  cavalrymen  acted  as 
escort.  The  bright  red  trousers  and  top-boots,  with 
the  deep-blue  jackets,  reminded  Beverly  more  than 
ever  of  the  operatic  figures  she  had  seen  so  often  at 
home.  There  was  a  fierce,  dark  cast  to  the  faces  of 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

these  soldiers,  however,  that  removed  any  suggestion 
of  play.  The  girl  was  in  ecstasies.  Everything 
about  her  appealed  to  the  romantic  side  of  her  nature ; 
everything  seemed  so  unreal  and  so  like  the  story 
book.  The  princess  smiled  lovingly  upon  the  throngs 
that  lined  the  street;  there  was  no  man  among  them 
who  would  not  have  laid  down  his  life  for  the  gracious 
ruler. 

"  Oh,  I  love  your  soldiers,"  cried  Beverly   warmly. 

"  Poor  fellows,  who  knows  how  soon  they  may  be 
called  upon  to  face  death  in  the  Dawsbergen  hills  ?  " 
said  Yetive,  a  shadow  crossing  her  face. 

Dangloss  was  to  remain  in  Ganlook  for  several 
days,  on  guard  against  manifestations  by  the 
Axphainians.  A  corps  of  spies  and  scouts  was  work 
ing  with  him,  and  couriers  were  ready  to  ride  at  a 
moment's  notice  to  the  castle  in  Edelweiss.  Before 
they  parted,  Beverly  extracted  a  renewal  of  his  prom 
ise  to  take  good  care  of  Baldos.  She  sent  a  message 
to  the  injured  man,  deploring  the  fact  that  she  was 
compelled  to  leave  Ganlook  without  seeing  him  as  she 
had  promised.  It  was  her  intention  to  have  him  come 
to  Edelweiss  as  soon  as  he  was  in  a  condition  to  be 
removed.  Captain  Dangloss  smiled  mysteriously,  but 
he  had  no  comment  to  make.  He  had  received  his 
orders  and  was  obe}ring  them  to  the  letter. 

"  I  wonder  if  Grcnfall  has  heard  of  my  harum- 
scarum  trip  to  St.  Petersburg,"  reflected  Yetive,  mak 
ing  herself  comfortable  in  the  coach  after  the  gates 
and  the  multitudes  were  far  behind. 

"  I'll  go  you  a  box  of  chocolate  creams  that  we 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS    113 

meet  him  before  we  get  to  Edelweiss,"  ventured  Bev 
erly. 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  princess. 

"  Don't  say  '  agreed,'  dear.  '  Done '  is  the  word," 
corrected  the  American  girl  airily. 

Beverly  won.  Grenfall  Lorry  and  a  small  company 
of  horsemen  rode  up  in  furious  haste  long  before  the 
sun  was  in  mid-sky.  An  attempt  to  depict  the  scene 
between  him  and  his  venturesome  wife  would  be  a  hope 
less  task.  The  way  in  which  his  face  cleared  itself 
of  distress  and  worry  was  a  joy  in  itself.  To  use  his 
own  words,  he  breathed  freely  for  the  first  time  in 
hours.  "  The  American "  took  the  place  of  the 
officer  who  rode  beside  the  coach,  and  the  trio  kept 
up  an  eager,  interesting  conversation  during  the  next 
two  hours. 

It  was  a  warm,  sleepy  day,  but  all  signs  of  drowsi 
ness  disappeared  with  the  advent  of  Lorry.  He  had 
reached  Edelweiss  late  the  night  before,  after  a  three 
days'  ride  from  the  conference  with  Dawsbergen.  At 
first  he  encountered  trouble  in  trying  to  discover  what 
had  become  of  the  princess.  Those  at  the  castle  were 
aware  of  the  fact  that  she  had  reached  Ganlook 
safely  and  sought  to  put  him  off  with  subterfuges. 
He  stormed  to  such  a  degree,  however,  that  their  object 
failed.  The  result  was  that  he  was  off  for  Ganlook 
with  the  earliest  light  of  day. 

Regarding  the  conference  with  Prince  Gabriel's 
representatives,  he  had  but  little  to  say.  The  escaped 
murderer  naturally  refused  to  surrender  and  was  to 
all  appearances  quite  firmly  established  in  power  once 


114       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

more.  Lorry's  only  hope  was  that  the  reversal  of 
feeling  in  Dawsbergen  might  work  ruin  for  the  prince. 
He  was  carrying  affairs  with  a  high  hand,  dealing 
vengeful  blows  to  the  friends  of  his  half-brother  and 
encouraging  a  lawlessness  that  sooner  or  later  must 
prove  his  undoing.  His  representatives  at  the  con 
ference  were  an  arrogant,  law-defying  set  of  men 
who  laughed  scornfully  at  every  proposal  made  by 
the  Graustarkians. 

"  We  told  them  that  if  he  were  not  surrendered  to 
our  authorities  inside  of  sixty  days  we  would  declare 
war  and  go  down  and  take  him,"  concluded  "  The 
American." 

"  Two  months,"  cried  Yetive.  "  I  don't  under 
stand." 

"There  was  method  in  that  ultimatum.  Axphain, 
of  course,  will  set  up  a  howl,  but  we  can  forestall 
any  action  the  Princess  Volga  may  undertake.  Xatu- 
rally,  one  might  suspect  that  we  should  declare  war 
at  once,  inasmuch  as  he  must  be  taken  sooner  or  later. 
But  here  is  the  point :  before  two  months  have  elapsed 
the  better  element  of  Dawsbergen  will  be  so  disgusted 
with  the  new  dose  of  Gabriel  that  it  will  do  anything 
to  avert  a  war  on  his  account.  We  have  led  them 
to  believe  that  Axphain  will  lend  moral,  if  not  phys 
ical,  support  to  our  cause.  Give  them  two  months  in 
which  to  get  over  this  tremendous  hysteria,  and  they'll 
find  their  senses.  Gabriel  isn't  worth  it,  you  see,  and 
down  in  their  hearts  they  know  it.  They  really  loved 
young  Dantan,  who  seems  to  be  a  devil  of  a  good 
fellow.  I'll  wager  my  head  that  in  six  weeks  they'll 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS    115 

be  Avishing  he  were  back  on  the  throne  again.  And 
just  to  think  of  it,  Yetivc,  dear,  you  were  off  there 
in  the  very  heart  of  Axplmin,  risking  everything," 
lie  cried,  wiping  the  moisture  from  his  brow. 

"  It  is  just  eleven  days  since  I  left  Edelweiss,  and 
I  have  had  a  lovely  journey,"  she  said,  Avith  one  of 
her  rare  smiles.  He  shook  his  head  gravely,  and  she 
resolved  in  her  heart  never  to  give  him  another  such 
cause  for  alarm. 

"  And  in  the  meantime,  Mr.  Grcnfall  Lorry,  you 
are  blaming  me  and  hating  me  and  all  that  for  being 
the  real  cause  of  your  Avife's  escapade,"  said  Beverly 
Calhoun  plaintively.  "  I'm  awfully  sorry.  But, 
you  must  remember  one  thing,  sir;  I  did  not  put  her 
up  to  this  ridiculous  trip.  She  did  it  of  her  own 
free  Avill  and  accord.  Besides,  I  am  the  one  who  met 
the  lion  and  almost  got  devoured,  not  Yetive,  if  you 
please." 

"  I'll  punish  you  by  turning  you  over  to  old  Count 
Marian x,  the  commander  of  the  army  in  Graustark," 
said  Lorry,  laughingly.  "  He's  a  terrible  ogre,  Averse 
than  any  lion." 

"  Heaven  pity  you,  Beverly,  if  you  fall  into  his 
clutches,"  cried  Yetive.  "  He  has  had  five  wives  and 
survives  to  look  for  a  sixth.  You  see  how  terrible 
it  would  be." 

"  I'm  not  afraid  of  him,"  boasted  Beverly,  but  there 
came  a  time  when  she  thought  of  those  Avords  with  a 
shudder. 

"  By  the  way,  Yetive,  I  have  had  Avord  from  Harry 
Anguish.  He  and  the  countess  will  leaA-e  Paris  this 


116       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

week,  if  the  baby's  willing,  and  will  be  in  Edelweiss 
soon.  You  don't  know  how  it  relieves  me  to  know  that 
Harry  will  be  with  us  at  this  time," 

Yetive's  eyes  answered  his  enthusiasm.  Both  had 
a  warm  and  grateful  memory  of  the  loyal  service 
which  the  young  American  had  rendered  his  friend 
when  they  had  first  come  to  Graustark  in  quest  of 
the  princess ;  and  both  had  a  great  regard  for  his  wife, 
the  Countess  Dagmar,  who,  as  Yetive's  lady  in  wait 
ing,  had  been  through  all  the  perils  of  those  exciting 
days  with  them. 

As  they  drew  near  the  gates  of  Edelweiss,  a  large 
body  of  horsemen  rode  forth  to  meet  them.  The 
afternoon  was  well  on  the  way  to  night,  and  the  air 
of  the  valley  was  cool  and  refreshing,  despite  the  rays 
of  the  June  sun. 

"  Edelweiss  at  last,"  murmured  Beverly,  her  face 
aglow.  "  The  heart  of  Graustark.  Do  you  know 
that  I  have  been  brushing  up  on  my  grammar?  I 
have  learned  the  meaning  of  the  word  '  Graustark,' 
and  it  seems  so  appropriate.  Grau  is  gray,  hoary, 
old ;  stark  is  strong.  Old  and  strong  —  isn't  it, 
dear?" 

"  And  here  rides  the  oldest  and  strongest  man  in 
all  Graustark- — the  Iron  Count  of  Marlanx,"  said 
Yetive,  looking  down  the  road.  "  See  —  the  strange 
gray  man  in  front  there  is  our  greatest  general,  our 
craftiest  fighter,  our  most  heartless  warrior.  Does 
he  not  look  like  the  eagle  or  the  hawk?  " 

A  moment  later  the  parties  met,  and  the  newcomers 
swung  into  line  with  the  escort.  Two  men  rode  up 


INSIDE    THE    CASTLE    WALLS    117 

to  the  carriage  and  saluted.  One  was  Count  Marlanx, 
the  other  Colonel  Quinnox,  of  the  Royal  Guard.  The 
count,  lean  and  gray  as  a  wolf,  revealed  rows  of 
huge  white  teeth  in  his  perfunctory  smile  of  welcome, 
wnile  young  Quinnox's  face  fairly  beamed  with  hon 
est  joy.  In  the  post  that  he  held,  he  was  but  follow 
ing  in  the  footsteps  of  his  forefathers.  Since  history 
began  in  Graustark,  a  Quinnox  had  been  in  charge 
of  the  castle  guard. 

The  "  Iron  Count,"  as  he  sometimes  was  called,  was 
past  his  sixtieth  year.  For  twenty  years  he  had  been 
in  command  of  the  army.  One  had  but  to  look  at 
his  strong,  sardonic  face  to  know  that  he  was  a  fear 
less  leader,  a  savage  fighter.  His  eyes  were  black, 
piercing  and  never  quiet ;  his  hair  and  close-cropped 
beard  were  almost  snow-white;  his  voice  was  heavy 
and  without  a  vestige  of  warmth.  Since  her  babyhood 
Yetive  had  stood  in  awe  of  this  grim  old  warrior.  It 
was  no  uncommon  thing  for  mothers  to  subdue  dis 
obedient  children  with  the  threat  to  give  them  over 
to  the  "  Iron  Count."  "  Old  Marlanx  will  get  you 
if  you're  not  good,"  was  a  household  phrase  in  Edel 
weiss.  He  had  been  married  five  times  and  as  many 
times  had  he  been  left  a  widower.  If  he  were  dis 
consolate  in  any  instance,  no  one  had  been  able  to 
discover  the  fact.  Enormously  rich,  as  riches  go  in 
Graustark,  he  had  found  young  women  for  his  wives 
who  thought  only  of  his  gold  and  his  lands  in  the. 
trade  they  made  with  Cupid.  It  was  said  that  without 
exception  they  died  happy.  Death  was  a  joy.  The 
fortress  overlooking  the  valley  to  the  south  was  no 


118       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

more  rugged  and  unyielding  than  the  man  who  made 
his  home  within  its  walls.  He  lived  there  from  choice 
and  it  was  with  his  own  money  that  he  fitted  up  the 
commandant's  quarters  in  truly  regal  style.  Power 
was  more  to  him  than  wealth,  though  he  enjoyed 
both. 

Colonel  Quinnox  brought  news  from  the  castle. 
Yetive's  uncle  and  aunt,  the  Count  and  Countess 
Halfont,  were  eagerly  expecting  her  return,  and  the 
city  was  preparing  to  manifest  its  joy  in  the  most 
exuberant  fashion.  As  they  drew  up  to  the  gates  the 
shouts  of  the  people  came  to  the  cars  of  the  travelers. 
Then  the  boom  of  cannon  and  the  blare  of  bands  broke 
upon  the  air,  thrilling  Beverly  to  the  heart.  She 
wondered  how  Yetivc  could  be  so  calm  and  unmoved 
in  the  face  of  all  this  homage. 

Past  the  great  Hotel  Regcngctz  and  the  Tower 
moved  the  gay  procession,  into  the  broad  stretch  of 
boulevard  that  led  to  the  gates  of  the  palace  grounds. 
The  gates  stood  wide  open  and  inviting.  Inside  was 
Jacob  Fraasch,  the  chief  steward  of  the  grounds,  with 
his  men  drawn  up  in  line ;  upon  the  walls  the  sentries 
came  to  parade  rest ;  on  the  plaza  the  Royal  band  was 
playing  as  though  by  inspiration.  Then  the  gates 
closed  behind  the  coach  and  escort,  and  Beverly  Cal- 
houn  Avas  safe  inside  the  castle  walls.  The  "  Iron 
Count  "  handed  her  from  the  carriage  at  the  portals 
of  the  palace,  and  she  stood  as  one  in  a  dream. 


CHAPTER  XI 


THE  ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK 


HE  two  weeks  following  Beverly  Cal- 
houn's  advent  into  the  royal  household 
were  filled  with  j  oy  and  wonder  for  her. 
Daily  she  sent  glowing  letters  to  her 
father,  mothor  and  brothers  in  Wash 
ington,  elaborating  vastly  upon  the 
paradise  into  which  she  had  fallen.  To  her 
highly  emotional  mind,  the  praises  of  Graustark  had 
been  but  poorly  sung.  The  huge  old  castle,  relic 
of  the  feudal  days,  with  its  turrets  and  bastions 
and  portcullises,  impressed  her  with  a  never-ending 
sense  of  wonder.  Its  great  halls  and  stairways,  its 
chapel,  the  throne-room,  and  the  armor-closet;  its 
underground  passages  and  dungeons  all  united  to  fill 
her  imaginative  soul  with  the  richest,  rarest  joys  of 
Romance.  Simple  American  girl  that  she  was,  unused 
•to  the  rigorous  etiquette  of  royalty,  she  found  em 
barrassment  in  the  first  confusion  of  events,  but  she 
was  not  long  in  recovering  her  poise. 

Her  apartments  were  near  those  of  the  Princess 
Yetive.  In  the  private  intercourse  enjoyed  by  these 
young  women,  all  manner  of  restraint  was  abandoned 

119 


120        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

by  the  visitor  and  every  vestige  of  royalty  slipped 
from  the  princess.  Count  Halfont  and  his  adorable 
wife,  the  Countess  Yvonne,  both  of  whom  had  grown 
old  in  the  court,  found  the  girl  and  her  strange  serv 
ant  a  source  of  wonder  and  delight. 

Some  days  after  Beverly's  arrival  there  came  to  the 
castle  Harry  Anguish  and  his  wife,  the  vivacious 
Dagmar.  With  them  came  the  year-old  cooing  babe 
who  was  to  overthrow  the  heart  and  head  of  every 
being  in  the  household,  from  princess  down.  The 
tiny  Dagmar  became  queen  at  once,  and  no  one  dis 
puted  her  rule. 

Anguish,  the  painter,  became  Anguish,  the  strate 
gist  and  soldier.  He  planned  with  Lorry  and  the 
ministry,  advancing  some  of  the  most  hair-brained 
projects  that  ever  encouraged  discussion  in  a  solemn 
conclave.  The  staid,  cautious  ministers  looked  upon 
him  with  wonder,  but  so  plausible  did  he  made  his 
proposals  appear  that  they  were  forced  to  consider 
them  seriously.  The  old  Count  of  Marlanx  held  him 
in  great  disdain,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  expose  his 
contempt.  This  did  not  disturb  Anguish  in  the  least, 
for  he  was  as  optimistic  as  the  sunshine.  His  plan 
for  the  recapture  of  Gabriel  was  ridiculousty  improb 
able,  but  it  was  afterwards  seen  that  had  it  been 
attempted  much  distress  and  delay  might  actually 
have  been  avoided. 

Yetive  and  Beverly,  with  Dagmar  and  the  baby, 
made  merry  while  the  men  were  in  council.  Their 
mornings  were  spent  in  the  shady  park  surrounding 
the  castle,  their  afternoons  in  driving,  riding  and 


ROYAL    COACH    OF    GRAUSTARK 

walking.  Oftentimes  the  princess  .was  barred  from 
these  simple  pleasures  by  the  exigencies  of  her  posi 
tion.  She  was  obliged  to  grant  audiences,  observe 
certain  customs  of  state,  attend  to  the  charities  that 
came  directly  under  her  supervision,  and  confer  with 
the  nobles  on  affairs  of  weight  and  importance.  Bev 
erly  delighted  in  the  throne-room  and  the  under 
ground  passages;  they  signified  more  to  her  than 
all  the  rest.  She  was  shown  the  room  in  which  Lorry 
had  foiled  the  Viennese  who  once  tried  to  abduct 
Yetive.  The  dungeon  where  Gabriel  spent  his  first 
days  of  confinement,  the  Tower  in  which  Lorry  had 
been  held  a  prisoner,  and  the  monastery  in  the  clouds 
were  all  places  of  unusual  interest  to  her. 

Soon  the  people  of  the  city  began  to  recognize  the 
fair  American  girl  who  was  a  guest  in  the  castle,  and 
a  certain  amount  of  homage  was  paid  to  her.  When 
she  rode  or  drove  in  the  streets,  with  her  attendant 
soldiers,  the  people  bowed  as  deeply  and  as  respect 
fully  as  they  did  to  the  princess  herself,  and  Beverly 
was  just  as  grand  and  gracious  as  if  she  had  been 
born  with  a  sceptre  in  her  hand. 

The  soft  moonlight  nights  charmed  her  with  a 
*ense  of  rapture  never  known  before.  With  the  castle 
brilliantly  illuminated,  the  halls  and  drawing-rooms 
filled  with  gay  courtiers,  the  harpists  at  their  posts, 
the  military  band  playing  in  the  parade  ground,  the 
balconies  and  porches  offering  their  most  inviting 
allurements,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Beverly  was  en 
tranced.  War  had  no  terrors  for  her.  If  she  thought 
of  it  at  all,  it  was  with  the  fear  that  it  might  dis- 


122       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

turb  the  dream  into  which  she  had  fallen.  True,  there 
was  little  or  nothing  to  distress  the  most  timid  in  these 
first  days.  The  controversy  between  the  principali 
ties  was  at  a  standstill,  although  there  was  not  an  hour 
in  which  preparations  for  the  worst  were  neglected. 
To  Beverly  Calhoun,  it  meant  little  .when  sentiment 
was  laid  aside ;  to  Yetive  and  her  people  this  prob 
able  war  with  Dawsbergen  meant  everything. 

Dangloss,  going  back  and  forth  between  Edelweiss 
and  the  frontier  north  of  Ganlook,  where  the  best  of 
the  police  and  secret  service  watched  with  the  sleep 
less  eyes  of  the  lynx,  brought  unsettling  news  to  the 
ministry.  Axphain  troops  were  engaged  in  the 
annual  maneuvers  just  across  the  border  in  their  own 
territory.  Usually  these  were  held  in  the  plains  near 
the  capital,  and  there  was  a  sinister  significance  in 
the  fact  that  this  year  they  were  being  carried  on  in 
the  rough  southern  extremity  of  the  principality, 
within  a  day's  march  of  the  Graustark  line,  fully  two 
months  earlier  than  usual.  The  doughty  baron  re 
ported  that  foot,  horse  and  artillery  were  engaged  in 
the  drills,  and  that  fully  8,000  men  were  massed  in 
the  south  of  Axphain.  The  fortifications  of  Ganlook, 
Labbot  and  other  towns  in  northern  Graustark  were 
strengthened  with  almost  the  same  care  as  those  in 
the  south,  where  conflict  with  Dawsbergen  might  first 
be  expected.  General  Marlanx  and  his  staff  rested 
neither  day  nor  night.  The  army  of  Graustark  was 
ready.  Underneath  the  castle's  gay  exterior  there 
smouldered  the  fire  of  battle,  the  tremor  of  defiance. 

Late    one    afternoon    Beverly    Calhoun    and    Mrs. 


ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK  123 

Anguish  drove  up  in  state  to  the  Tower,  wherein  sat 
Dangloss  and  his  watchdogs.  The  scowl  left  his 
face  as  far  as  nature  would  permit  and  he  welcomed 
the  ladies  warmly. 

"  I  came  to  ask  about  my  friend,  the  goat-hunter," 
said  Beverly,  her  checks  a  trifle  rosier  than  usual. 

"  He  is  far  from  an  amiable  person,  your  highness," 
said  the  officer.  When  discussing  Baldos  he  never 
failed  to  address  Beverly  as  "  your  highness."  "  The 
fever  is  gone  and  he  is  able  to  walk  without  much  pain, 
but  he  is  as  restless  as  a  witch.  Following  instruc 
tions,  I  have  not  questioned  him  concerning  his  plans, 
but  I  fancy  he  is  eager  to  return  to  the  hills." 

"  What  did  he  say  when  you  gave  him  my 
message?  "  asked  Beverly. 

"  Which  one,  your  highness  ? "  asked  he,  with 
tantalizing  density. 

"  Why,  the  suggestion  that  he  should  come  to  Edel 
weiss  for  better  treatment,"  retorted  Beverly  severely. 

"  He  said  he  was  extremely  grateful  for  your  kind 
offices,  but  he  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  come  to 
this  city.  He  requested  me  to  thank  you  in  his  behalf 
and  to  tell  you  that  he  will  never  forget  what  you  have 
done  for  him." 

"And  he  refuses  to  come  to  Edelweiss?"  irritably 
demanded  Beverly. 

"  Yes,  your  highness.  You  see,  he  still  regards 
himself  with  disfavor,  being  a  fugitive.  It  is  hardly 
fair  to  blame  him  for  respecting  the  security  of  the 
hills." 

"  I  hoped  that  I  might  induce  him  to  give  up  his 


124       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

old  life  and  engage  in  something  perfectly  honest, 
although,  mind  you,  Baron  Dangloss,  I  do  not  ques 
tion  his  integrity  in  the  least.  He  should  have  a 
chance  to  prove  himself  worthy,  that's  all.  This 
morning  I  petitioned  Count  Marlanx  to  give  him  a 
place  in  the  Castle  Guard." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Calhoun,  the  princess  has  — 
began  the  captain. 

"  Her  highness  has  sanctioned  the  request,"  inter 
rupted  she. 

"  And  the  count  has  promised  to  discover  a 
vacancy,"  said  Dagmar,  with  a  smile  that  the  baron 
understood  perfectly  well. 

"  This  is  the  first  time  on  record  that  old  Marlanx 
has  ever  done  anything  to  oblige  a  soul  save  himself. 
It  is  wonderful,  Miss  Calhoun.  What  spell  do  you 
Americans  cast  over  rock  and  metal  that  they  become 
as  sand  in  your  fingers?  "  said  the  baron,  admiration 
and  wonder  in  his  eyes. 

"  You  dear  old  flatterer,"  cried  Beverly,  so  warmly 
that  he  caught  his  breath. 

"  I  believe  that  you  can  conquer  even  that  stubborn 
fellow  in  Ganlook,"  he  said,  fumbling  with  his  glasses. 
"  He  is  the  most  obstinate  being  I  know,  and  yet  in 
ten  minutes  you  could  bring  him  to  terms,  I  am  sure. 
He  could  not  resist  you." 

"  He  still  thinks  I  am  the  princess  ?  " 

"  He  does,  and  swears  by  you." 

"  Then,  my  mind  is  made  up.  I'll  go  to  Ganlook 
and  bring  him  back  with  me,  willy-nilly.  He  is  too 
good  a  man  to  be  lost  in  the  hills.  Good-bye,  Baron 


ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK  125 

Dangloss.  Thank  you  ever  and  ever  so  much.  Oh, 
yes;  will  you  write  an  order  delivering  him  over  to 
me?  The  hospital  people  may  be  —  er  —  disoblig 
ing,  you  knov,'." 

"  It  shall  be  in  your  highness's  hands  this  evening." 

The  next  morning,  with  Colonel  Quinnox  and  a 
small  escort,  Beverly  Calhoun  set  off  in  one  of  the 
royal  coaches  for  Ganlook,  accompanied  by  faithful 
Aunt  Fanny.  She  carried  the  order  from  Baron 
Dangloss  and  a  letter  from  Yetive  to  the  Countess 
Rallowitz,  insuring  hospitality  over  night  in  the  north 
ern  town.  Lorry  and  the  royal  household  entered 
merrily  into  her  project,  and  she  went  away  with  the 
godspeeds  of  all.  The  Iron  Count  himself  rode  be 
side  her  coach  to  the  city  gates,  an  unheard-of  con 
descension. 

"  Now,  you'll  be  sure  to  find  a  nice  place  for  him 
in  the  castle  guard,  won't  you,  Count  Marlanx?  "  she 
said  at  the  parting,  her  hopes  as  fresh  as  the  daisy 
in  the  dew,  her  confidence  supreme.  The  count  prom 
ised  faithfully,  even  eagerly.  Colonel  Quinnox, 
trained  as  he  was  in  the  diplomacy  of  silence,  could 
scarcely  conceal  his  astonishment  at  the  conquest  of 
the  hard  old  warrior. 

Although  the  afternoon  was  well  spent  before  Bev 
erly  reached  Ganlook,  she  was  resolved  to  visit  the 
obdurate  patient  at  once,  relying  upon  her  resource 
fulness  to  secure  his  promise  to  start  with  her  for 
Edelweiss  on  the  following  morning.  The  coach 
delivered  her  af  the  hospital  door  in  grand  style. 
When  the  visitor  was  ushered  into  the  snug  little  ante- 


126        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

room  of  the  governor's  office,  her  heart  was  throbbing 
and  her  composure  was  undergoing  a  most  unusual 
strain.  It  annoyed  her  to  discover  that  the  approach 
ing  contact  writh  an  humble  goat-hunter  was  giving 
her  such  unmistakable  symptoms  of  perturbation. 

From  an  upstairs  window  in  the  hospital  the  con 
valescent  but  unhappy  patient  witnessed  her  approach 
and  arrival.  His  sore,  lonely  heart  gave  a  bound  of 
joy,  for  the  days  had  seemed  long  since  her  departure. 

He  had  had  time  to  think  during  these  days,  too. 
Turning  over  in  his  mind  all  of  the  details  in  connec 
tion  with  their  meeting  and  their  subsequent  inter 
course,  it  began  to  dawn  upon  him  that  she  might  not 
be  what  she  assumed  to  be.  Doubts  assailed  him,  sus 
picions  grew  into  amazing  forms  of  certainty.  There 
were  times  when  he  laughed  sardonically  at  himself  for 
being  taken  in  by  this  strange  but  charming  young 
woman,  but  through  it  all  his  heart  and  mind  were 
being  drawn  more  and  more  fervently  toward  her. 
More  than  once  he  called  himself  a  fool  and  more 
than  once  he  dreamed  foolish  dreams  of  her  —  princess 
or  not.  Of  one  thing  he  was  sure :  he  had  come  to 
love  the  adventure  for  the  sake  of  what  it  promised 
and  there  was  no  bitterness  beneath  his  suspicions. 

Arrayed  in  clean  linen  and  presentable  clothes,  pale 
from  indoor  confinement  and  fever,  but  once  more  the 
straight  and  strong  cavalier  of  the  hills,  he  hastened 
into  her  presence  when  the  summons  came  for  him 
to  descend.  He  dropped  to  his  knee  and  kissed  her 
hand,  determined  to  play  the  game,  notwithstanding 
his  doubts.  As  he  arose  she  glanced  for  a  flitting 


ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK   127 

second  into  his  dark  eyes,  and  her  own  long  lashes 
drooped. 

"  Your  highness !  "  he  said    gratefully. 

"  How  well  and  strong  you  look,"  she  said  hur 
riedly.  "  Some  of  the  tan  is  gone,  but  you  look  as 
though  you  had  never  been  ill.  Are  you  quite  recov 
ered?" 

"  They  say  I  am  as  good  as  new,"  he  smilingly  an 
swered.  "  A  trifle  weak  and  uncertain  in  my  lower 
extremities,  but  a  few  days  of  exercise  in  the  moun 
tains  will  overcome  all  that.  Is  all  well  with  you  and 
Graustark?  They  will  give  me  no  news  here,  by 
whose  order  I  do  not  know." 

"  Turn  about  is  fair  play,  sir.  It  is  a  well-estab 
lished  fact  that  you  will  give  them  no  news.  Yes,  all 
is  well  with  me  and  mine.  Were  you  beginning  to 
think  that  I  had  deserted  you?  It  has  been  two  weeks, 
hasn't  it?" 

"  Ah,  your  highness,  I  realize  that  you  have  had 
much  more  important  things  to  do  than  to  think  of 
poor  Baldos.  I  am  exceedingly  grateful  for  this  sign 
of  interest  in  my  welfare.  Your  visit  is  the  brightest 
experience  of  my  life." 

"Be  seated !  "  she  cried  suddenly.  "  You  are  too 
ill  to  stand." 

"  Were  I  dying  I  should  refuse  to  be  seated  while 
your  highness  stands,"  said  he  simply.  His  shoul 
ders  seemed  to  square  themselves  involuntarily  and  his 
left  hand  twitched  as  though  accustomed  to  the  habit 
of  touching  a  sword-hilt.  Beverly  sat  down  instantly ; 


128       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

with  his  usual  easy  grace,  he  took  a  chair  near  by. 
They  were  alone  in  the  ante-chamber. 

"  Even  though  you  were  on  your  last  legs  ?  "  she 
murmured,  and  then  wondered  how  she  could  have 
uttered  anything  so  inane.  Somehow,  she  was  begin 
ning  to  fear  that  he  was  not  the  ordinary  person  she 
had  judged  him  to  be.  "  You  are  to  be  discharged 
from  the  hospital  to-morrow,"  she  added  hastily. 

"  To-morrow?  "  he  cried,  his  eyes  lighting  with  joy. 
"  I  may  go  then  ?  " 

"  I  have  decided  to  take  you  to  Edelweiss  with  me," 
she  said,  very  much  as  if  that  were  all  there  was  to 
it.  He  stared  at  her  for  a  full  minute  as  though 
doubting  his  ears. 

"  No!  "  he  said,  at  last,  his  jaws  settling,  his  eyes 
glistening.  It  was  a  terrible  setback  for  Beverly's 
confidence.  "  Your  highness  forgets  that  I  have  your 
promise  of  absolute  freedom." 

"  But  you  are  to  be  free,"  she  protested.  "  You 
have  nothing  to  fear.  It  is  not  compulsory,  you 
know.  You  don't  have  to  go  unless  you  really  want 
to.  But  my  heart  is  set  on  having  you  in  —  in  the 
castle  guard."  His  bitter,  mocking  laugh  surprised 
and  wounded  her,  which  he  was  quick  to  see,  for  his 
contrition  was  immediate. 

"  Pardon,  your  highness.  I  am  a  rude,  ungrateful 
wretch,  and  I  deserve  punishment  instead  of  reward. 
The  proposal  was  so  astounding  that  I  forgot  myself 
completely,"  he  said. 

Whereupon,  catching  him  in  this  contrite  mood,  she 
began  a  determined  assault  against  his  resolution. 


ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK  129 

For  an  hour  she  devoted  her  whole  heart  and  soul  to 
the  task  of  overcoming  his  prejudices,  fears  and 
objections,  meeting  his  protestations  firmly  and  logic 
ally,  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  her  very  enthusiasm 
was  betraying  her  to  him.  The  first  signs  of  weak 
ening  inspired  her  afresh  and  at  last  she  was  riding 
over  him  rough-shod,  a  happy  victor.  She  made 
promises  that  Yetive  herself  could  not  have  made ;  she 
offered  inducements  that  never  could  be  carried  out, 
although  in  her  zeal  she  did  not  know  it  to  be  so ; 
she  painted  such  pictures  of  ease,  comfort  and  pleasure 
that  he  wondered  why  royalty  did  not  exchange  places 
with  its  servants.  In  the  end,  overcome  by  the  spirit 
of  adventure  and  a  desire  to  be  near  her,  he  agreed 
to  enter  the  service  for  six  months,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  time  he  was  to  be  released  from  all  obliga 
tions  if  he  so  desired. 

"  But  my  friends  in  the  pass,  your  highness,"  he 
said  in  surrendering,  "  what  is  to  become  of  them? 
They  are  waiting  for  me  out  there  in  the  wilderness. 
I  am  not  base  enough  to  desert  them." 

"  Can't  you  get  word  to  them?  "  she  asked  eagerly. 
"  Let  them  come  into  the  city,  too.  We  will  provide 
for  the  poor  fellows,  believe  me." 

"  That,  at  least,  is  impossible,  your  highness,"  he 
said,  shaking  his  head  sadly.  "  You  will  have  to 
siay  them  before  you  can  bring  them  within  the  city 
gates.  My  only  hope  is  that  Franz  may  be  here  to 
night.  He  has  permission  to  enter,  and  I  am  expect 
ing  him  to-day  or  to-morrow." 

"  You  can  send  word  to  them  that  you  are  sound 


130       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

and  safe  and  you  can  tell  them  that  Graustark  soldiers 
shall  be  instructed  to  pay  no  attention  to  them  what 
ever.  They  shall  not  be  disturbed."  He  laughed 
outright  at  her  enthusiasm.  Many  times  during  her 
eager  conversation  with  Baldos  she  had  almost  be 
trayed  the  fact  that  she  was  not  the  princess.  Some 
of  her  expressions  were  distinctly  unregal  and  some 
of  her  slips  were  hopeless,  as  she  viewed  them  in  retro 
spect. 

"  What  am  I  ?  Only  the  humble  goat-hunter, 
hunted  to  death  and  eager  for  a  short  respite.  Do 
with  me  as  you  like,  your  highness.  You  shall  be 
my  princess  and  sovereign  for  six  months,  at  least," 
he  said,  sighing.  "  Perhaps  it  is  for  the  best." 

"  You  are  the  strangest  man  I've  ever  seen,"  she 
remarked,  puzzled  beyond  expression. 

That  night  Franz  appeared  at  the  hospital  and  was 
left  alone  with  Baldos  for  an  hour  or  more.  What 
passed  between  them,  no  outsider  knew,  though  there 
were  tears  in  the  eyes  of  both  at  the  parting.  But 
Franz  did  not  start  for  the  pass  that  night,  as  they 
had  expected.  Strange  news  had  come  to  the  ears  of 
the  faithful  old  follower  and  he  hung  about  Ganlook 
until  morning  came,  eager  to  catch  the  ear  of  his 
leader  before  it  was  too  late. 

The  coach  was  drawn  up  in  front  of  the  hospital 
at  eight  o'clock,  Beverly  triumphant  in  command. 
Baldos  came  down  the  steps  slowly,  carefully,  favor 
ing  the  newly  healed  ligaments  in  his  legs.  She 
smiled  cheerily  at  him  and  he  swung  his  rakish  hat 
low.  There  was  no  sign  of  the  black  patch.  Sud- 


ROYAL  COACH  OF  GRAUSTARK  131 

denly  he  started  and  peered  intently  into  the  little  knot 
of  people  near  the  coach.  A  look  of  anxiety  crossed 
his  face.  From  the  crowd  advanced  a  grizzled  old 
beggar  who  boldly  extended  his  hand.  Baldos 
grasped  the  proffered  hand  and  then  stepped  into  the 
coach.  No  one  saw  the  bit  of  white  paper  that  passed 
from  Franz's  palm  into  the  possession  of  Baldos. 
Then  the  coach  was  off  for  Edelweiss,  the  people  of 
Ganlook  enjoying  the  unusual  spectacle  of  a  mys 
terious  and  apparently  undistinguished  stranger  sit 
ting  in  luxurious  ease  beside  a  fair  lady  in  the  royal 
coach  of  Graustark. 


CHAPTER  XII 


IN   SERVICE 

T  was  a  drowsy  day,  and,  besides, 
Baldos  was  not  in  a  communicative 
frame  of  mind.  Beverly  put  forth 
her  best  efforts  during  the  forenoon, 
but  after  the  basket  luncheon  had 
been  disposed  of  in  the  shade  at  the 
roadside,  she  was  content  to  give  up  the  struggle 
and  surrender  to  the  soothing  importunities  of  the 
coach  as  it  bowled  along.  She  dozed  peacefully,  con 
scious  to  the  last  that  he  was  a  most  ungracious 
creature  and  more  worthy  of  resentment  than  of  bene 
faction.  Baldos  was  not  intentionally  disagreeable; 
he  was  morose  and  unhappy  because  he  could  not  help 
it.  Was  he  not  leaving  his  friends  to  wander  alone 
in  the  wilderness  while  he  drifted  weakly  into  the  com 
forts  and  pleasures  of  an  enviable  service?  His  heart 
was  not  in  full  sympathy  with  the  present  turn  of 
affairs,  and  he  could  not  deny  that  a  selfish  motive 
was  responsible  for  his  action.  He  had  the  all  too 
human  eagerness  to  serve  beauty;  the  blood  and  fire 
of  youth  were  strong  in  this  wayward  nobleman  of 
the  hills. 

Lying  back  in  the  seat,  he  pensively  studied  the  face 
132 


/AT    SERVICE  133 

of  the  sleeping  girl  whose  dark -brown  head  was  pil 
lowed  against  the  corner  cushions  of  the  coach.  Her 
hat  had  been  removed  for  the  sake  of  comfort.  The 
dark  lashes  fell  like  a  soft  curtain  over  her  eyes, 
obscuring  the  merry  gray  that  had  overcome  his 
apprehensions.  Her  breathing  was  deep  and  regular 
and  peaceful.  One  little  gloved  hand  rested  carelessly 
in  her  lap,  the  other  upon  her  breast  near  the  delicate 
throat.  The  heart  of  Baldos  was  troubled.  The 
picture  he  looked  upon  was  entrancing,  uplifting;  he 
rose  from  the  lowly  state  in  which  she  had  found  him 
to  the  position  of  .admirer  in  secret  to  a  princess,  real 
or  assumed.  He  found  himself  again  wondering  if 
she  were  really  Yetive,  and  with  that  fear  in  his  heart 
he  was  em^-ing  Grenfall  Lorry,  the  lord  and  master 
of  this  exquisite  creature,  envying  with  all  the  help 
lessness  of  one  whose  hope  is  blasted  at  birth. 

The  note  which  had  been  surreptitiously  passed  to 
him  in  Ganlook  lay  crumpled  and  forgotten  inside  his 
coat  pocket,  where  he  had  dropped  it  the  moment  it 
had  come  into  his  possession,  supposing  that  the 
message  contained  information  which  had  been  for 
gotten  by  Franz,  and  was  by  no  means  of  a  nature  to 
demand  immediate  attention.  Had  he  read  it  at  once 
his  suspicions  would  have  been  confirmed,  and  it  is 
barely  possible  that  lie  would  have  refused  to  enter 
the  city. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  walls  of  Edelweiss  were 
sighted.  For  the  first  time  he  looked  upon  the  distant 
housetops  of  the  principal  city  of  Graustark.  Up  in 
the  clouds,  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain  peak  over- 


134        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

looking  the  city,  stood  the  famed  monastery  of  Saint 
Valentine.  Stretching  up  the  gradual  incline  were 
the  homes  of  citizens,  accessible  only  by  footpaths  and 
donkey  roads.  Beverly  was  awake  and  impatient  to 
reach  the  journey's  end.  He  had  proved  a  most  dis 
appointing  companion,  polite,  but  with  a  baffling 
indifference  that  irritated  her  considerably.  There 
was  a  set  expression  of  defiance  in  his  strong,  clean- 
cut  face,  the  look  of  a  soldier  advancing  to  meet  a 
powerful  foe. 

"  I  do  hope  he'll  not  always  act  this  way,"  she  was 
complaining  in  her  thoughts.  "  He  was  so  charm 
ingly  impudent  out  in  the  hills,  so  deliciously  human. 
Now  he  is  like  a  clam.  Yetive  will  think  I  am  such  a 
fool  if  he  doesn't  live  up  to  the  reputation  I've  given 
him!" 

"  Here  are  the  gates,"  he  said,  half  to  himself. 
"  What  is  there  in  store  for  me  beyond  those  walls  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  wouldn't  be  so  dismal,"  she  cried 
in  despair.  "  It  seems  just  like  a  funeral." 

"  A  thousand  apologies,  your  highness,"  he  mur 
mured,  with  a  sudden  lightness  of  speech  and  man 
ner.  "  Henceforth  I  shall  be  a  most  amiable  jester, 
to  please  you." 

Beverly  and  the  faithful  Aunt  Fanny  were  driven 
to  the  castle,  where  the  former  bade  farewell  to  her 
new  knight  until  the  following  morning,  when  he  was 
to  appear  before  her  for  personal  instructions.  Colo 
nel  Quinnox  escorted  him  to  the  barracks  of  the  guard, 
where  he  was  to  share  a  room  with  young  Haddan,  a 
corporal  in  the  service. 


IN    SERVICE  135 

"  The  wild,  untamed  gentleman  from  the  hills  came 
without  a  word,  I  see,"  said  Lorry,  who  had  watched 
the  approach.  He  and  Yetive  stood  in  the  window 
overlooking  the  grounds  from  the  princess's  boudoir. 
Beverly  had  just  entered  and  thrown  herself  upon  a 
divan. 

"  Yes,  he's  here,"  she  said  shortly. 

"  How  long  do  you,  with  all  your  cleverness,  expect 
to  hoodwink  him  into  the  belief  that  you  are  the 
princess?  "  asked  Yetive,  amused  but  anxious. 

"  He's  a  great  fool  for  being  hoodwinked  at  all," 
said  Beverly,  very  much  at  odds  with  her  protege. 
"  In  an  hour  from  now  he  will  know  the  truth  and  will 
be  howling  like  a  madman  for  his  freedom." 

"  Not  so  soon  as  that,  Beverly,"  said  Lorry  con 
solingly.  "  The  guards  and  officers  have  their  in 
structions  to  keep  him  in  the  dark  as  long  as  possible." 

"  Well,  I'm  tired  and  mad  and  hungry  and  every 
thing  else  that  isn't  compatible.  Let's  talk  about  the 
war,"  said  Beverly,  the  sunshine  in  her  face  mo 
mentarily  eclipsed  by  the  dark  cloud  of  disappoint 
ment. 

Baldos  was  notified  that  duty  would  be  assigned  to 
him  in  the  morning.  He  went  through  the  formali 
ties  which  bound  him  to  the  service  for  six  months, 
listening  indifferently  to  the  words  that  foretold  the 
fate  of  a  traitor.  It  was  not  until  his  new  uniform 
and  equipment  came  into  his  possession  that  he  remem 
bered  the  note  resting  in  his  pocket.  He  drew  it  out 
and  began  to  read  it  with  the  slight  interest  of  one 
who  has  anticipated  the  effect.  But  not  for  long  was 


136       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

he  to  remain  apathetic.  The  first  few  lines  brought  a 
look  of  understanding  to  his  eyes;  then  he  laughed 
the  easy  laugh  of  one  who  has  cast  care  and  confidence 
to  the  winds.  This  is  what  he  read : 

"  She  is  not  the  princess.  We  have  been  duped.  Last  night  I 
learned  the  truth.  She  is  Miss  Calhoun,  an  American,  going  to 
be  a  guest  at  the  castle.  Refuse  to  go  with  her  into  Edelweiss. 
It  may  be  a  trap  and  may  mean  death.  Question  her  boldly 
before  committing  yourself." 

There  came  the  natural  impulse  to  make  a  dash  for 
the  outside  world,  fighting  his  way  through  if  neces 
sary.  Looking  back  over  the  ground,  he  wondered 
how  he  could  have  been  deceived  at  all  by  the  uncon 
ventional  American.  In  the  clear  light  of  retrospec 
tion  he  now  saw  how  impossible  it  was  for  her  to  have 
been  the  princess.  Every  act,  every  word,  every  look 
should  have  told  him  the  truth.  Every  flaw  in  her 
masquerading  now  presented  itself  to  him  and  he  WHS 
compelled  to  laugh  at  his  own  simplicity.  Caution, 
after  all,  was  the  largest  component  part  of  his  make 
up  ;  the  craftiness  of  the  hunted  was  deeply  rooted 
in  his  being.  He  saw  a  very  serious  side  to  the  adven 
ture.  Stretching  himself  upon  the  cot  in  the  corner 
of  the  room  he  gave  himself  over  to  plotting,  plan 
ning,  thinking. 

In  the  midst  of  his  thoughts  a  sudden  light  burst 
in  upon  him.  His  eyes  gleamed  with  a  new  fire,  his 
heart  leaped  with  new  animation,  his  blood  ran  warm 
again.  Leaping  to  his  feet  he  ran  to  the  window  to 
re-read  the  note  from  old  Franz.  Then  he  settled 
back  and  laughed  with  a  fervor  that  cleared  the  brain 
of  a  thousand  vague  misgivings. 


IN    SERVICE  137 

"  She  is  Miss  Calhoun,  an  American  going  to  be  a 
guest  at  the  castle,"  —  not  the  princess,  but  Miss  Cal 
houn.  Once  more  the  memory  of  the  clear  gray  eyes 
leaped  into  life ;  again  he  saw  her  asleep  in  the  coach 
on  the  road  from  Ganlook;  again  he  recalled  the 
fervent  throbs  his  guilty  heart  had  felt  as  he  looked 
upon  this  fair  creature,  at  one  time  the  supposed 
treasure  of  another  man.  Now  she  was  Miss  Calhoun, 
and  her  gray  eyes,  her  entrancing  smile,  her  won 
drous  vivacity  were  not  for  one  man  alone.  It  was 
marvelous  what  a  change  this  sudden  realization 
wrought  in  the  view  ahead  of  him.  The  whole  situa 
tion  seemed  to  be  transformed  into  something  more 
desirable  than  ever  before.  His  face  cleared,  his 
spirits  leaped  higher  and  higher  with  the  buoyancy  of 
fresh  relief,  his  confidence  in  himself  crept  back  into 
existence.  And  all  because  the  fair  deceiver,  the  slim 
girl  with  the  brave  gray  eyes  who  had  drawn  him  into 
a  net,  was  not  a  princess ! 

Something  told  him  that  she  had  not  drawn  him  into 
his  present  position  with  any  desire  to  injure  or  with 
the  slightest  sense  of  malice.  To  her  it  had  been  a 
merry  jest,  a  pleasant  comedy.-  Underneath  all  he 
saw  the  goodness  of  her  motive  in  taking  him  from  the 
old  life,  and  putting  him  into  his  present  position  of 
trust.  He  had  helped  her,  and  she  was  ready  to  help 
him  to  the  limit  of  her  power.  His  position  in  Edel 
weiss  was  clearly  enough  defined.  The  more  he 
thought  of  it,  the  more  justifiable  it  seemed  as  viewed 
from  her  point  of  observation.  How  long  she  hoped 
to  keep  him  in  the  dark  he  could  not  tell.  The  out- 


138       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

come  would  be  entertaining;  her  efforts  to  deceive,  if 
she  kept  them  up,  would  be  amusing.  Altogether,  he 
was  ready,  with  the  leisure  and  joy  of  youth,  to  await 
developments  and  to  enjoy  the  comedy  from  a  point  of 
view  which  she  could  not  at  once  suspect. 

His  subtle  efforts  to  draw  Haddan  into  a  discussion 
of  the  princess  and  her  household  resulted  unsatisfac 
torily.  The  young  guard  was  annoyingly  unrespon 
sive.  He  had  his  secret  instructions  and  could  not 
be  inveigled  into  betraying  himself.  Baldos  went  to 
sleep  that  night  with  his  mind  confused  by  doubts. 
His  talk  with  Haddan  had  left  him  quite  undecided  as 
to  the  value  of  old  Franz's  warning.  Either  Franz 
was  mistaken,  or  Haddan  was  a  most  skilful  dissem 
bler.  It  struck  him  as  utterly  beyond  the  pale  of  rea 
son  that  the  entire  castle  guard  should  have  been 
enlisted  in  the  scheme  to  deceive  him.  When  sleep 
came,  he  was  contenting  himself  with  the  thought  that 
morning  doubtless  would  give  him  clearer  insight  to 
the  situation. 

Both  he  and  Beverly  Calhoun  were  ignorant  of  the 
true  conditions  that  attached  themselves  to  the  new 
recruit.  Baron  Dangloss  alone  knew  that  Haddan 
was  a  trusted  agent  of  the  secret  service,  with  instruc 
tions  to  shadow  the  newcomer  day  and  night.  That 
there  was  a  mystery  surrounding  the  character  of 
Baldos,  the  goat-hunter,  Dangloss  did  not  question  for 
an  instant :  and  in  spite  of  the  instructions  received 
at  the  outset,  he  was  using  all  his  skill  to  unravel  it. 

Baldos  was  not  summoned  to  the  castle  until  noon. 
His  serene  indifference  to  the  outcome  of  the  visit  wa.= 


IN    SERVICE  139 

calculated  to  deceive  the  friendly  but  watchful  Had- 
dan.  Dressed  carefully  in  the  close-fitting  uniform 
of  the  royal  guard,  taller  than  most  of  his  fellows, 
handsomer  by  far  than  any,  he  was  the  most  notice 
able  figure  in  and  about  the  barracks.  Haddan 
coached  him  in  the  way  he  was  to  approach  the 
princess,  Baldos  listening  with  exaggerated  intent- 
ness  and  with  deep  regard  for  detail. 

Beverly  was  in  the  small  audience-room  off  the  main 
reception  hall  when  he  was  ushered  into  her  presence. 
The  servants  and  ladies-in-waiting  disappeared  at  a 
signal  from  her.  She  arose  to  greet  him  and  he  knelt 
to  kiss  her  hand.  For  a  moment  her  tongue  was 
bound.  The  keen  eyes  of  the  new  guard  had  looked 
into  hers  with  a  directness  that  seemed  to  penetrate 
her  brain.  That  this  scene  was  to  be  one  of  the  most 
interesting  in  the  little  comedy  was  proved  by  the  fact 
that  two  eager  young  women  were  hidden  behind  a 
heavy  curtain  in  a  corner  of  the  room.  The  Princess 
Yetive  and  the  Countess  Dagmar  were  there  to  enjoy 
Beverly's  first  hour  of  authority,  and  she  was  aware 
of  their  presence. 

"  Have  they  told  you  that  you  are  to  act  as  my 
especial  guard  and  escort?  "  she  asked,  with  a  queer 
flutter  in  her  voice.  Somehow  this  tall  fellow  with  the 
broad  shoulders  was  not  the  same  as  the  ragged  goat- 
hunter  she  had  known  at  first. 

"  No,  your  highness,"  said  he,  easily.  "  I  have 
come  for  instructions.  It  pleases  me  to  know  that  I 
am  to  have  a  place  of  honor  and  trust  such  as  this." 

"  General   Marlanx   has   told   me   that   a   vacancy 


140       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

exists,  and  I  have  selected  you  to  fill  it.  The  compen 
sation  will  be  attended  to  by  the  proper  persons,  and 
your  duties  will  be  explained  to  you  by  one  of  the 
officers.  This  afternoon,  I  believe,  you  are  to  accom 
pany  me  on  my  visit  to  the  fortress,  which  I  am  to 
inspect." 

"  Very  well,  your  highness,"  he  respectfully  said. 
He  was  thinking  of  Miss  Calhoun,  an  American  girl, 
although  he  called  her  "  your  highness."  "  May  I 
be  permitted  to  ask  for  instructions  that  can  come  only 
from  your  highness?  " 

"  Certainty,"  she  replied.  His  manner  was  more 
deferential  than  she  had  ever  known  it  to  be,  but  he 
threw  a  bomb  into  her  fine  composure  with  his  next 
remark.  He  addressed  her  in  the  Graustark  lan 
guage  : 

"  Is  it  your  desire  that  I  shall  continue  to  address 
you  in  English?  " 

Beverly's  face  turned  a  bit  red  and  her  eyes  wavered. 
By  a  wonderful  effort  she  retained  her  self-control, 
stammering  ever  so  faintly  when  she  said  in  English: 

"  I  wish  you  would  speak  English,"  unwittingly 
giving  answer  to  his  question.  "  I  shall  insist  upon 
that.  Your  English  is  too  good  to  be  spoiled." 

Then  he  made  a  bold  test,  his  first  having  failed. 
He  spoke  once  more  in  the  native  tongue,  this  time 
softly  and  earnestly. 

"  As  3Tou  wish,  your  highness,  but  I  think  it  is  a 
most  ridiculous  practice,"  he  said,  and  his  heart  lost 
none  of  its  courage.  Beverly  looked  at  him  almost 
pathetically.  She  knew  that  behind  the  curtain  two 


IN    SERVICE 

young  women  were  enjoying  her  discomfiture.  Some 
thing  told  her  that  they  were  stifling  their  mirth  with 
dainty  lace-bordered  handkerchiefs. 

"  That  will  do,  sir,"  she  managed  to  say  firmly. 
"  It's  very  nice  of  you,  but  after  this  pay  your  hom 
age  in  English,"  she  went  on,  taking  a  long  chance 
on  his  remark.  It  must  have  been  complimentary,  she 
reasoned.  As  for  Baldos,  the  faintest  sign  of  a  smile 
touched  his  lips  and  his  eyes  were  twinkling  as  he  bent 
his  head  quickly.  Franz  was  right ;  she  did  not  know 
a  word  of  the  Graustark  language. 

"  I  have  entered  the  service  for  six  months,  your 
highness,"  he  said  in  English.  "  You  have  honored 
me,  and  I  give  my  heart  as  well  as  my  arm  to  your 
cause." 

Beverly,  breathing  easier,  was  properly  impressed 
by  this  promise  of  fealty.  She  was  looking  with  pride 
upon  the  figure  of  her  stalwart  protege. 

"  I  hope  you  have  destroyed  that  horrid  black 
patch,"  she  said. 

"  It  has  gone  to  keep  company  with  other  devoted 
but  deserted  friends,"  he  said,  a  tinge  of  bitterness 
in  his  voice. 

"  The  uniform  is  vastly  becoming,"  she  went  on, 
realizing  helplessly  that  she  was  providing  intense 
amusement  for  the  unseen  auditors. 

"  It  shames  the  rags  in  which  you  found  me." 

"  I  shall  never  forget  them,  Baldos,"  she  said,  with 
a  strange  earnestness  in  her  voice. 

*  May  I  presume  to  inquire  after  the  health  of  your 
good  Aunt  Fanny  and  —  although  I  did  not  see 


142       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

him  —  your  Uncle  Sam  ?  "  he  asked,  with  a  face  as 
straight  and  sincere  as  that  of  a  judge.  Beverly 
swallowed  suddenly  and  checked  a  laugh  with  some 
difficulty. 

"  Aunt  Fanny  is  never  ill.  Some  day  I  shall  tell 
you  more  of  Uncle  Sam.  It  will  interest  you." 

"  Another  question,  if  it  please  your  highness.  DC 
you  expect  to  return  to  America  soon  ?  " 

This  was  the  unexpected,  but  she  met  it  Avith  ad 
mirable  composure. 

"  It  depends  upon  the  time  when  Prince  Dantan 
resumes  the  throne  in  Dawsbergen,"  she  said. 

"  And  that  day  may  never  come,"  said  he,  such 
mocking  regret  in  his  voice  that  she  looked  upon  him 
with  newer  interest. 

"  Why,  I  really  believe  you  want  to  go  to  America," 
she  cried. 

The  eyes  of  Baldos  had  been  furtively  drawn  to  the 
curtain  more  than  once  during  the  last  few  minutes. 
An  occasional  movement  of  the  long  oriental  hang 
ings  attracted  his  attention.  It  dawned  upon  him 
that  the  little  play  was  being  overheard,  whether  by 
spies  or  conspirators  he  knew  not.  Resentment  sprang 
up  in  his  breast  and  gave  birth  to  a  daring  that  was 
as  spectacular  as  it  was  confounding.  With  long, 
noiseless  strides,  he  reached  the  door  before  Beverly 
could  interpose.  She  half  started  from  her  chair,  her 
eyes  wide  with  dismay,  her  lips  parted,  but  his  hand 
was  already  clutching  the  curtain.  He  drew  it  aside 
relentlessly. 

Two  startled  women  stood  exposed  to  view,  smiles 


./         I      •• 


"Your    Highness,"    he   said    clearly,    coolly,    "I 
fear  we  have  spies  and  eavesdroppers  here." 


IN    SERVICE  U3 

dying  on  their  amazed  faces.  Their  backs  were 
against  the  closed  door  and  two  hands  clutching  hand 
kerchiefs  dropped  from  a  most  significant  altitude. 
One  of  them  flashed  an  imperious  glance  at  the  bold 
discoverer,  and  he  knew  he  was  looking  upon  the  real 
princess  of  Graustark.  He  did  not  lose  his  com 
posure.  Without  a  tremor  he  turned  to  the  American 
girl. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  said  clearly,  coolly,  "  I  fear 
we  have  spies  and  eavesdroppers  here.  Is  your  court 
made  up  of  —  I  should  say,  they  are  doubtless  a  pair 
of  curious  ladies-in-waiting.  Shall  I  begin  my  serv 
ice,  your  highness,  by  escorting  them  to  yonder 
door?  " 


CHAPTER  XIII 


THE    THREE    PRINCES 

EVERLY  gasped.  The  countess 
stared  blankly  at  the  new  guard. 
Yetive  flushed  deeply,  bit  her  lip  in 
hopeless  chagrin,  and  dropped  her 
eyes.  A  pretty  turn,  indeed,  the 
play  had  taken!  Not  a  word  was 
uttered  for  a  full  half-minute;  nor  did  the  guilty 
witnesses  venture  forth  from  their  retreat.  Baldos 
stood  tall  and  impassive,  holding  the  curtain  aside. 
At  last  the  shadow  of  a  smile  crept  into  the  face  of 
the  princess,  but  her  tones  were  full  of  deep  humility 
when  she  spoke. 

"  We  crave  permission  to  retire,  your  highness," 
she  said,  and  there  was  virtuous  appeal  in  her  eyes. 
"  I  pray  forgiveness  for  this  indiscretion  and  implore 
you  to  be  lenient  with  two  miserable  creatures  who 
love  you  so  well  that  they  forget  their  dignity." 

"  I  am  amazed  and  shocked,"  was  all  that  Beverly 
could  say.  "  You  may  go,  but  return  to  me  within 
an  hour.  I  will  then  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

Slowly,  even  humbly,  the  ruler  of  Graustark  and 
her  cousin  passed  beneath  the  upraised  arm  of  the 
new  guard.  He  opened  a  door  on  the  opposite  side  of 

14-4 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  145 

the  room,  and  they  went  out,  to  all  appearance  thor 
oughly  crestfallen.  The  steady  features  of  the  guard 
did  not  relax  for  the  fraction  of  a  second,  but  his 
heart  was  thumping  disgracefully. 

"  Come  here,  Baldos,"  commanded  Beverly,  a  bit 
pale,  but  recovering  her  wits  with  admirable  prompt 
ness.  "  This  is  a  matter  which  I  shall  dispose  of  pri 
vately.  It  is  to  go  no  further,  you  are  to  under 
stand." 

"  Yes,  your  highness." 

"  You  may  go  now.  Colonel  Quinnox  will  explain 
everything,"  she  said  hurriedly.  She  was  eager  to  be 
rid  of  him.  As  he  turned  away  she  observed  a  faint 
but  peculiar  smile  at  the  corner  of  his  mouth. 

"  Come  here,  sir ! "  she  exclaimed  hotly.  He 
paused,  his  face  as  sombre  as  an  owl's.  "  What  do 
you  mean  by  laughing  like  that  ? "  she  demanded. 
He  caught  the  'fierce  note  in  her  voice,  but  gave  it 
the  proper  interprctatiom. 

"  Laughing,  your  highness?  "  he  said  in  deep  sur 
prise.  "  You  must  be  mistaken.  I  am  sure  that  I 
could  not  have  laughed  in  the  presence  of  a  princess." 

"  It  must  have  been  a  —  a  shadow,  then,"  she  re 
tracted,  somewhat  startled  by  his  rejoinder.  "  Very 
well,  then;  you  are  dismissed." 

As  he  was  about  to  open  the  door  through  which 
he  had  entered  the  room,  it  swung  wide  and  Count 
Marlanx  strode  in.  Baldos  paused  irresolutely,  and 
then  proceeded  on  his  way  without  paying  the  slight 
est  attention  to  the  commander  of  the  army.  Mar- 


146        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

lanx  came  to  an  amazed  stop  and  his  face  flamed  with 
resentment. 

"  Halt,  sir !  "  he  exclaimed  harshly.  "  Don't  you 
know  enough  to  salute  me,  sir?  " 

Baldos  turned  instantly,  his  figure  straightening 
like  a  flash.  His  eyes  met  those  of  the  Iron  Count 
and  did  not  waver,  although  his  face  went  white  with 
passion. 

"  And  who  are  you,  sir?  "  he  asked  in  cold,  steely 
tones.  The  count  almost  reeled. 

"  Your  superior  officer  —  that  should  be  enough 
for  you !  "  he  half  hissed  with  deadly  levclness. 

"  Oh,  then  I  see  no  reason  why  I  should  not  salute 
you,  sir,"  said  Baldos,  with  one  of  his  rare  smiles.  He 
saluted  his  superior  officer  a  shade  too  elaborately  and 
turned  away.  Marlanx's  eyes  glistened. 

"  Stop !  Have  I  said  you  could  go,  sir  ?  I  have 
a  bit  of  advice  to " 

"  My  command  to  go  comes  from  your  superior, 
sir,"  said  Baldos,  with  irritating  blandness. 

"  Be  patient,  general,"  cried  Beverly  in  deep  dis 
tress.  "  He  does  not  know  any  better.  I  will  stand 
sponsor  for  him."  And  Baldos  went  away  with  a 
light  step,  his  blood  singing,  his  devil-may-care  heart 
satisfied.  The  look  in  her  eyes  was  very  sustaining. 
As  he  left  the  castle  he  said  aloud  to  himself  with  an 
easy  disregard  of  the  consequences: 

"  Well,  it  seems  that  I  am  to  be  associated  with  the 
devil  as  well  as  with  angels.  Heavens !  June  is  a 
glorious  month." 

"  Now,  you  promised  you'd  be  nice  to  him,  General 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  147 

Marlanx,"  cried  Beverly  the  instant  Baldos  was  out 
of  the  room.  "  He's  new  at  this  sort  of  thing,  you 
know,  and  besides,  you  didn't  address  him  very  politely 
for  an  utter  stranger." 

"  The  insolent  dog,"  snarled  Marlanx,  his  self-con 
trol  returning  slowly.  "  He  shall  be  taught  well  and 
thoroughly,  never  fear,  Miss  Calhoun.  There  is  a 
way  to  train  such  recruits  as  he,  and  they  never  forget 
what  they  have  learned." 

"  Oh,  please  don't  be  harsh  with  him,"  she  pleaded. 
The  smile  of  the  Iron  Count  was  not  at  all  reassuring. 
"  I  know  he  will  be  sorry  for  what  he  has  done,  and 
you " 

"  I  am  quite  sure  he  will  be  sorry,"  said  he,  with  a 
most  agreeable  bow  in  submission  to  her  appeal. 

"  Do  you  want  to  see  Mr.  Lorry  ? "  she  asked 
quickly.  "  I  will  send  for  him,  general."  She  was 
at  the  door,  impatient  to  be  with  the  banished  cul 
prits. 

"  My  business  with  Mr.  Lorry  can  wait,"  he  began, 
with  a  smile  meant  to  be  inviting,  but  which  did  not 
impress  her  at  all  pleasantly. 

"  Well,  anyway,  I'll  tell  him  you're  here,"  she  said, 
her  hand  on  the  door-knob.  "  Will  you  wait  here? 
Good-bye ! "  And  then  she  was  racing  off  through 
the  long  halls  and  up  broad  stair-cases  toward  the 
boudoir  of  the  princess.  There  is  no  telling  how  long 
the  ruffled  count  remained  in  the  ante-room,  for  the 
excited  Beverly  forgot  to  tell  Lorry  that  he  was  there. 

There  were  half  a  dozen  people  in  the  room  when 
Beverly  entered  eagerly.  She  was  panting  with  ex- 


148       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

citement.  Of  all  the  rooms  in  the  grim  old  castle, 
the  boudoir  of  the  princess  was  the  most  famously 
attractive.  It  was  really  her  home,  the  exquisite  abid 
ing  place  of  an  exquisite  creature.  To  lounge  on  her 
divans,  to  loll  in  the  chairs,  to  glide  through  her 
priceless  rugs  was  the  acme  of  indolent  pleasure.  Few 
were  they  who  enjoyed  the  privileges  of  "  Little 
Heaven,"  as  Harry  Anguish  had  christened  it  on  one 
memorable  night,  long  before  the  princess  was  Mrs. 
Grenfall  Lorry. 

"  Now,  how  do  you  feel  ?  "  cried  the  flushed  Ameri 
can  girl,  pausing  in  the  door  to  point  an  impressive 
finger  at  the  princess,  who  was  lying  back  in  a  huge 
chair,  the  picture  of  distress  and  annoyance. 

"  I  shall  never  be  able  to  look  that  man  in  the 
face  again,"  came  dolefully  from  Yetive's  humbled 
lips.  Dagmar  was  all  smiles  and  in  the  fittest  of 
humors.  She  was  the  kind  of  a  culprit  who  loves  the 
punishment  because  of  the  crime. 

"  Wasn't  it  ridiculous,  and  wasn't  it  just  too 
lovely  ?  "  she  cried. 

"  It  was  extremely  theatrical,"  agreed  Beverly, 
seating  herself  on  the  arm  of  Yetive's  chair  and  throw 
ing  a  warm  arm  around  her  neck.  "  Have  you  all 
heard  about  it?"  she  demanded,  naively,  turning  to 
the  others,  who  unquestionably  had  had  a  jumbled 
account  of  the  performance. 

"  You  got  just  what  you  deserved,"  said  Lorry,  who 
was  immensely  amused. 

"  I  wonder  what  your  august  vagabond  thinks  of 
his  princess  and  her  ladies-in-hiding?"  mused  Harry 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  U9 

Anguish.  The  Count  and  Countess  Halfont  were 
smiling  in  spite  of  the  assault  upon  the  dignity  of  the 
court. 

"  I'd  give  anything  to  know  what  he  really  thinks," 
said  the  real  princess.  "  Oh,  Beverly,  wasn't  it 
awful  ?  And  how  he  marched  us  out  of  that  room !  " 

"  I  thought  it  was  great,"  said  Beverly,  her  eyes 
glowing.  "Wasn't  it  splendid?  And  isn't  he  good 
looking  ?  " 

"  He  is  good  looking,  I  imagine,  but  I  am  no  judge, 
dear.  It  was  utterly  impossible  for  me  to  look  at  his 
face,"  lamented  the  princess. 

"  What  arc  you  going  to  do  with  us  ?  "  asked  Dag- 
mar  penitently. 

"  You  are  to  spend  the  remainder  of  your  life  in  a 
dungeon  with  Baldos  as  guard,"  decided  Miss  Cal- 
houn. 

"  Beverly,  dear,  that  man  is  no  ordinary  person," 
said  the  princess,  quite  positively. 

"  Of  course  he  isn't.     He's  a  tall,  dark  mystery." 

"  I  observed  him  as  he  crossed  the  terrace  this  morn 
ing,"  said  Lorry.  "  He's  a  striking  sort  of  chap,  and 
I'll  bet  my  head  he's  not  what  he  claims  to  be." 

"  He  claims  to  be  a  fugitive,  you  must  remember," 
said  Beverly,  in  his  defense. 

"  I  mean  that  he  is  no  common  malefactor  or  what 
ever  it  may  be.  Who  and  what  do  you  suppose  he  is? 
I  confess  that  I'm  interested  in  the  fellow  and  he 
looks  as  though  one  might  like  him  without  half  try 
ing.  Why  haven't  you  dug  up  his  past  history, 
Beverlv?  You  are  so  keen  about  him." 


150        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  He  positively  refuses  to  let  me  dig,"  explained 
Beverly.  "  I  tried,  you  know,  but  he  —  he  —  well, 
he  squelched  me." 

"  Well,  after  all  is  said  and  done,  he  caught  us 
peeping  to-day,  and  I  am  filled  with  shame,"  said  the 
princess.  "  It  doesn't  matter  who  he  is,  he  must  cer 
tainly  have  a  must  unflattering  opinion  as  to  what 
we  are." 

"  And  he  is  sure  to  know  us  sooner  or  later,"  said 
the  young  countess,  momentarily  serious. 

"  Oh,  if  it  ever  comes  to  that  I  shall  be  in  a  splendid 
position  to  explain  it  all  to  him,"  said  Beverly. 
"  Don't  you  see,  I'll  have  to  do  a  lot  of  explaining 
myself?" 

"  Baron  Dangloss !  "  announced  the  guard  of  the 
upper  hall,  throwing  open  the  door  for  the  doughty 
little  chief  of  police. 

"  Your  "highness  sent  for  me?"  asked  he,  advanc 
ing  after  the  formal  salutation.  The  princess  exhib 
ited  genuine  amazement. 

"  I  did,  Baron  Dangloss,  but  you  must  have  come, 
with  the  wings  of  an  eagle.  It  is  really  not  more  thai) 
three  minutes  since  I  gave  the  order  to  Colonel  Quin- 
nox."  The  baron  smiled  mysteriously,  but  volun 
teered  no  solution.  The  truth  is,  he  was  entering  the. 
castle  doors  as  the  messenger  left  them,  but  he  was 
much  too  fond  of  effect  to  spoil  a  good  situation  bj 
explanations.  It  was  a  long  two  miles  to  his  office  in 
the  Tower.  "  Something  has  just  happened  that  in> 
pels  me  to  ask  a  few  questions  concerning  Baldos,  the 
new  guard." 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  151 

"  May  I  first  ask  what  lias  happened?  "  Dangloss 
was  at  a  loss  for  the  meaning  of  the  general  smile  that 
went  around. 

"  It  is  quite  personal  and  of  no  consequence.  What 
do  you  know  of  him?  Myr  curiosity  is  aroused.  Now, 
be  quiet,  Beverly ;  you  are  as  eager  to  know  as  the 
rest  of  us." 

"  Well,  your  highness,  I  may  as  well  confess  that 
the  man  is  a  puzzle  to  me.  He  comes  here  a  vagabond, 
but  he  certainly  does  not  act  like  one.  He  admits  that 
he  is  being  hunted,  but  takes  no  one  into  his  confi 
dence.  For  that,  he  cannot  be  blamed." 

"  Have  you  any  reason  to  suspect  who  he  is  ?  " 
asked  Lorry. 

"  My  instructions  were  to  refrain  from  questioning 
him,"  complained  Dangloss,  with  a  pathetic  look  at 
the  original  plotters.  "  Still,  I  have  made  investiga 
tions  along  other  lines." 

"  And  who  is  he?  "  cried  Beverly,  eagerly. 

"  I  don't  know,"  was  the  disappointing  answer. 
"  We  are  confronted  by  a  queer  set  of  circumstances. 
Doubtless  you  all  know  that  young  Prince  Dantan  is 
flying  from  the  wrath  of  his  half-brother,  our  lament 
ed  friend  Gabriel.  He  is  supposed  to  be  in  our  hills 
with  a  half-starved  body  of  followers.  It  seems  im 
possible  that  he  could  have  reached  our  northern 
boundaries  without  our  outposts  catching  a  glimpse 
of  him  at  some  time.  The  trouble  is  that  his  face  is 
unknown  to  most  of  us,  I  among  the  others.  I  have 
been  going  on  the  presumption  that  Baldos  is  in 


152       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

reality  Prince  Dantan.  But  last  night  the  belief  re 
ceived  a  severe  shock." 

"  Yes  ?  "  came  from  several  eager  lips. 

"  My  men  who  are  watching  the  Dawsbergen  fron 
tier  came  in  last  night  and  reported  that  Dantan  had 
been  seen  by  mountaineers  no  later  than  Sunday,  three 
days  ago.  These  mountaineers  were  in  sympathy 
with  him,  and  refused  to  tell  whither  he  went.  We 
only  know  that  he  was  in  the  southern  part  of  Grau- 
stark  three  days  ago.  Our  new  guard  speaks  many 
languages,  but  he  has  never  been  heard  to  use  that  of 
Dawsbergen.  That  fact  in  itself  is  not  surprising, 
for,  of  all  things,  he  would  avoid  his  mother  tongue. 
Dantan  is  part  English  by  birth  and  wholly  so  by 
cultivation.  In  that  he  evidently  finds  a  mate  in 
this  Baldos." 

"  Then,  he  really  isn't  Prince  Dantan  ? "  cried 
Beverly,  as  though  a  cherished  ideal  had  been  shat 
tered. 

"  Not  if  we  are  to  believe  the  tales  from  the  south. 
Here  is  another  complication,  however.  There  is,  as 
you  know,  Count  Halfont,  and  perhaps  all  of  you, 
for  that  matter,  a  pretender  to  the  throne  of  Axphain, 
the  fugitive  Prince  Frederic.  He  is  described  as 
young,  good  looking,  a  scholar  and  the  next  thing  to 
a  pauper." 

"  Baldos  a  mere  pretender,"  cried  Beverly  in  real 
distress.  "  Never !  " 

"  At  any  rate,  he  is  not  what  he  pretends  to  be," 
said  the  baron,  with  a  wise  smile. 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  153 

"  Then,  you  think  he  may  be  Prince  Frederic?  " 
asked  Lorry,  deeply  interested. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  think  so,  although  another  com 
plication  has  arisen.  May  it  please  your  highness,  I 
am  in  an  amazingly  tangled  state  of  mind,"  admitted 
the  baron,  passing  his  hand  over  his  brow. 

"  Do  you  mean  that  another  mysterious  prince  has 
come  to  life?  "  asked  Yctive,  her  eyes  sparkling  with 
interest  in  the  revelations. 

"  Early  this  morning  a  despatch  came  to  me  from 
the  Grand  Duke  Michael  of  Rapp-Thorberg,  a  duchy 
in  western  Europe,  informing  me  that  the  duke's  eld 
est  son  had  fled  from  home  and  is  known  to  have  come 
to  the  far  east,  possibly  to  Graustark." 

"  Great  Scott !  "  exclaimed  Anguish.  "  It  never 
rains  but  it  hails,  so  here's  hail  to  the  princes  three." 

"  We  are  the  Mecca  for  runaway  royalty,  it  seems," 
said  Count  Halfont. 

"  Go  on  with  the  story,  Baron  Dangloss,"  cried 
the  princess.  "  It  is  like  a  book." 

"  A  description  of  the  young  man  accompanies  the 
offer  of  a  large  reward  for  information  that  may  lead 

to  his  return  home  for  reconciliation.  And " 

here  the  baron  paused  dramatically. 

"And  what?"  interjected  Beverly,  who  could  not 
wait. 

"  The  description  fits  our  friend  Baldos  per 
fectly  ! " 

"  You  don't  mean  it?  "  exclaimed  Lorry.  "  Then, 
he  may  be  any  one  of  the  three  you  have  mentioned  ?  " 

"  Let  me  tell  you  what  the  grand  duke's  secretary 


154        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

says.  I  have  the  official  notice,  but  left  it  in  my  desk. 
The  runaway  son  of  the  grand  duke  is  called  Christo- 
bal.  He  is  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  speaks  English 
fluently,  besides  French  and  our  own  language.  It 
seems  that  he  attended  an  English  college  with  Prince 
Dantan  and  some  of  our  own  young  men  who  are  still 
in  England.  Six  weeks  ago  he  disappeared  from  his 
father's  home.  At  the  same  time  a  dozen  wild  and 
venturous  retainers  left  the  grand  duchy.  The  party 
was  seen  in  Vienna  a  week  later,  and  the  young  duke 
boldly  announced  that  he  was  off  to  the  east  to  help 
his  friend  Dantan  in  the  fight  for  his  throne.  Going 
on  the  theory  that  Baldos  is  this  same  Christobal,  we 
have  only  to  provide  a  reason  for  his  preferring  the 
wilds  to  the  comforts  of  our  cities.  In  the  first  place, 
he  knows  there  is  a  large  reward  for  his  apprehension 
and  he  fears  —  our  police.  In  the  second  place,  he 
does  not  care  to  direct  the  attention  of  Prince  Dan- 
tan's  foes  to  himself.  He  missed  Dantan  in  the  hills 
and  doubtless  was  lost  for  weeks.  But  the  true  rea 
son  for  his  flight  is  made  plain  in  the  story  that  was 
printed  recently  in  Paris  and  Berlin  newspapers.  Ac 
cording  to  them,  Christobal  rebelled  against  his 
father's  right  to  select  a  wife  for  him.  The  grand 
duke  had  chosen  a  noble  and  wealthy  bride,  and  the 
son  had  selected  a  beautiful  girl  from  the  lower  walks 
of  life.  Father  and  son  quarreled  and  neither  would 
give  an  inch.  Christobal  would  not  marry  his  father's 
choice,  and  the  grand  duke  would  not  sanction  his 
union  with  the  fair  plebeian." 

Here   Beverty   exclaimed   proiull;*.   her   face   glow- 


THE    THREE    PRINCES  155 

ing:  "Ho  doesn't  look  like  the  sort  of  man  who 
could  be  bullied  into  marrying  anybody  if  he  didn't 
want  to." 

"  And  he  strikes  me  as  the  sort  who  would  marry 
any  one  he  set  his  heart  upon  having,"  added  the 
princess,  with  a  taunting  glance  at  Miss  Calhoun. 

"  Umph  !  "  sniffed  Beverly  defiantly.  The  baron 
went  on  with  his  narrative,  exhibiting  signs  of  excite 
ment. 

"  To  lend  color  to  the  matter,  Christobal's  sweet 
heart,  the  daughter  of  a  game-warden,  was  murdered 
the  night  before  her  lover  fled.  I  know  nothing  of 
the  circumstances  attending  the  crime,  but  it  is  my 
understanding  that  Christobal  is  not  suspected.  It  is 
possible  that  he  is  ignorant  even  now  of  the  girl's 
fate." 

"  Well,  by  the  gods,  we  have  a  goodly  lot  of 
heroes  about  us,"  exclaimed  Lorry. 

"  But,  after  all,"  ventured  the  Countess  Half  out, 
"  Baldos  may  be  none  of  these  men." 

"  Good  heavens,  Aunt  Yvonne,  don't  suggest  any 
thing  so  distressing,"  said  Yctive.  "  He  must  be  one 
of  them." 

"  I  suggest  a  speedy  way  of  determining  the  mat 
ter,"  said  Anguish.  "  Let  us  send  for  Baldos  and 
ask  him  point  blank  who  he  is.  I  think  it  is  up  to  him 
to  clear  away  the  mystery." 

"  No !  "  cried  Beverly,  starting  to  her  feet. 

"  It  seems  to  be  the  only  way,"  said  Lorry. 

"  But  I  promised  him  that  no  questions  should  be 


156       BEVERLY    OF    GllAUSTARK 

asked,"  said  Beverly,  almost  tearfully  but  quite  reso 
lutely.     "Didn't  I,  Yet  —  your  highness?" 

"  Alas,  yes ! "  said  the  princess,  with  a  pathetic 
little  smile  of  resignation,  but  with  loyalty  in  the 
clasp  of  her  hand. 


CHAPTER  XIV 


HAT  same  afternoon  Baldos,  bliss 
fully  ignorant  of  the  stir  he  had 
created  in  certain  circles,  rode  out  for 
the  first  time  as  a  member  of  the 
Castle  Guard.  He  and  Haddan  were 
detailed  by  Colonel  Quinnox  to  act 
as  private  escort  to  Miss  Calhoun  until  otherwise 
ordered.  If  Haddan  thought  himself  wiser  than 
Baldos  in  knowing  that  their  charge  was  not  the 
princess,  he  was  very  much  mistaken;  if  he  enjoyed 
the  trick  that  was  being  played  on  his  fellow  guards 
man,  his  enjoyment  was  as  nothing  as  compared  to 
the  pleasure  Baldos  was  deriving  from  the  situation. 
The  roj-al  victoria  was  driven  to  the  fortress,  con 
veying  the  supposed  princess  and  the  Countess  Dag- 
mar  to  the  home  of  Count  Marlanx.  The  two  guards 
rode  bravely  behind  the  equipage,  resplendent  in  bril 
liant  new  uniforms.  Baldos  was  mildly  surprised  and 
puzzled  by  the  homage  paid  the  young  American  girl. 
It  struck  him  as  preposterous  that  the  entire  popula 
tion  of  Edelweiss  could  be  in  the  game  to  deceive 
him. 

"  Who  is  the  princess's  companion  ?  "  he  inquired 
of  Haddan,  as  they  left  the  castle  grounds. 

157 


158        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  The  Countess  Dagmar,  cousin  to  her  highness. 
She  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Anguish." 

"  I  have  seen  her  before,"  said  Baldos,  a  strange 
smile  on  his  face. 

The  Countess  Dagmar  found  it  difficult  at  first  to 
meet  the  eye  of  the  new  guard,  but  he  was  so  punctil 
iously  oblivious  that  her  courage  was  restored.  She 
even  went  so  far  as  to  whisper  in  Beverly's  ear  that 
he  did  not  remember  her  face,  and  probably  would 
not  recognize  Yetive  as  one  of  the  eavesdroppers. 
The  princess  had  flatly  refused  to  accompany  them 
on  the  visit  to  the  fortress  because  of  Baldos.  Struck 
by  a  sudden  impulse,  Beverly  called  Baldos  to  the  side 
of  the  vehicle. 

"  Baldos,  you  behaved  very  nicely  yesterday  in  ex 
posing  the  duplicity  of  those  young  women,"  she  said. 

"  I  am  happy  to  have  pleased  your  highness,"  he 
said  steadily. 

"  It  may  interest  you  to  know  that  they  ceased  to 
be  ladies-in-waiting  after  that  exposure." 

"  Yes,  your  highness,  it  certainly  is  interesting," 
he  said,  as  he  fell  back  into  position  beside  Haddan. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  ride  he  caught  himself 
time  after  time  gazing  reflectively  at  the  back  of  her 
proud  little  head,  possessed  of  an  almost  uncontroll 
able  desire  to  touch  the  soft  brown  hair. 

'  You  can't  fool  that  excellent  young  man  much 
longer,  my  dear,"  said  the  countess,  recalling  the  look 
in  his  dark  eyes.  The  same  thought  had  been  af 
flicting  Beverly  with  its  probabilities  for  twenty-four 
hours  and  more. 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  159 

Count  Marlanx  welcomed  his  visitors  with  a 
graciousness  that  awoke  wonder  in  the  minds  of  his 
staff'.  His  marked  preference  for  the  American  girl 
did  not  escape  attention.  Some  of  the  bolder  young 
officers  indulged  in  surreptitious  grimaces,  and  all 
looked  with  more  or  less  compassion  upon  the  happy- 
faced  beauty  from  over  the  sea.  Marlanx  surveyed 
Baldos  steadily  and  coldly,  deep  disapproval  in  his 
sinister  eyes.  He  had  not  forgotten  the  encounter  of 
the  day  before. 

"  I  see  the  favorite  is  on  guard,"  he  said  blandly. 
"  Has  he  told  you  of  the  lesson  in  manners  he  enj  oy ed 
last  night?"  He  was  leading  his  guests  toward  the 
quarters,  Baldos  and  Haddan  following.  The  new 
guard  could  not  help  hearing  the  sarcastic  remark. 

"You  didn't  have  him  beaten?"  cried  Beverly, 
stopping  short. 

"  No,  but  I  imagine  it  would  have  been  preferable. 
I  talked  with  him  for  half  an  hour,"  said  the  general, 
laughing  significantly. 

When  the  party  stopped  at  the  drinking-fountain 
in  the  center  of  the  fort,  Baldos  halted  near  by.  His 
face  was  as  impassive  as  marble,  his  eyes  set  straight 
before  him,  his  figure  erect  and  soldierly.  An  occa 
sional  sarcastic  remark  by  the  Iron  Count,  meant  for 
his  ears,  made  no  impression  upon  the  deadly  compo 
sure  of  the  new  guard  who  had  had  his  lesson.  Miss 
Calhoun  was  conscious  of  a  vague  feeling  that  she  had 
served  Baldos  an  ill-turn  when  she  put  him  into  this 
position. 

The  count  provided  a  light  luncheon  in  his  quar- 


160        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

tcrs  after  the  ladies  had  gone  over  the  fortress.  Bev 
erly  Calhoun,  with  all  of  a  woman's  indifference  to 
things  material,  could  not  but  see  how  poorly 
equipped  the  fort  was  as  compared  to  the  ones  she 
had  seen  in  the  United  States.  She  and  the  countess 
visited  the  armory,  the  arsenal,  and  the  repair  shops 
before  luncheon,  reserving  the  pleasures  of  the  club 
house,  the  officers'  quarters,  and  the  parade-ground 
until  afterwards.  Count  Marlanx's  home  was  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  enclosure,  near  the  gates. 
Several  of  the  officers  lunched  with  him  and  the  young 
ladies.  Marlanx  was  assiduous  in  his  attention  to 
Beverly  Calhoun  —  so  much  so,  in  fact,  that  the 
countess  teased  her  afterwards  about  her  conquest  of 
the  old  and  well-worn  heart.  Beverly  thought  him 
extremely  silly  and  sentimental,  much  preferring  him 
in  the  character  of  the  harsh,  implacable  martinet. 

At  regular  intervals  she  saw  the  straight,  martial 
form  of  Baldos  pass  the  window  near  which  she  sat. 
He  was  patrolling  the  narrow  piazza  which  fronted 
the  house.  Toward  the  close  of  the  rather  trying 
luncheon  she  was  almost  unable  to  control  the  impulse 
to  rush  out  and  compel  him  to  relax  that  imposing, 
machine-like  stride.  She  hungered  for  a  few  minutes 
of  the  old-time  freedom  with  him. 

The  Iron  Count  was  showing  her  some  rare  antique 
bronzes  he  had  collected  in  the  south.  The  luncheon 
was  over  and  the  countess  had  strolled  off  toward  the 
bastions  with  the  young  officers,  leaving  Beverly 
alone  with  the  host.  Servants  came  in  to  clear  the 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  161 

tables,  but  the  count  harshly  ordered  them  to  wait 
until  the  guests  had  departed. 

"  It  is  the  dearest  thing  I  have  seen,"  said  Beverly, 
holding  a  rare  old  candlestick  at  arm's  length  and 
looking  at  it  in  as  many  ways  as  the  wrist  could  turn. 
Her  loose  sleeves  ended  just  below  the  elbows.  The 
count's  eyes  followed  the  graceful  curves  of  her  white 
forearm  with  an  eagerness  that  was  annoying. 

"  I  prize  it  more  dearly  than  any  other  piece  in 
my  collection,"  he  said.  "  It  came  from  Home ;  it  has 
a  history  which  I  shall  try  to  tell  you  some  day,  and 
which  makes  it  almost  invaluable.  A  German  noble 
man  offered  me  a  small  fortune  if  I  would  part 
with  it." 

"  And  you  wouldn't  sell  it?  " 

"  I  was  saving  it  for  an  occasion,  your  highness," 
he  said,  his  steely  eyes  glittering.  "  The  glad  hour 
has  come  when  I  can  part  with  it  for  a  recompense  far 
greater  than  the  baron's  gold." 

"  Oh,  isn't  it  lucky  you  kept  it?  "  she  cried.  Then 
she  turned  her  eyes  away  quickly,  for  his  gaze  seemed 
greedily  endeavoring  to  pierce  through  the  lace  in 
sertion  covering  her  neck  and  shoulders.  Outside  the 
window  the  steady  tramp  of  the  tall  guard  went  on 
monotonously. 

"  The  recompense  of  a  sweet  smile,  a  tender  blush 
and  the  unguarded  thanks  of  a  pretty  woman.  The 
candlestick  is  yours,  Miss  Calhoun, —  if  you  will  re 
pay  me  for  my  sacrifice  by  accepting  it  without  reser 
vation." 

Slowly  Beverly  Calhoun  set  the  candlestick  down 


162       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

upon  the  table,  her  eyes  meeting  his  with  steady  dis 
dain. 

"  What  a  rare  old  jester  you  are,  Count  Marlanx," 
she  said  without  a  smile.  "  If  I  thought  you  were  in 
earnest  I  should  scream  with  laughter.  May  I  sug 
gest  that  we  join  the  countess?  We  must  hurry 
along,  you  know.  She  and  I  have  promised  to  play 
tennis  with  the  princess  at  three  o'clock."  The 
count's  glare  of  disappointment  lasted  but  a  moment. 
The  diplomacy  of  egotism  came  to  his  relief,  and  he 
held  back  the  gift  for  another  day,  but  not  for  another 
woman. 

"  It  grieves  me  to  have  you  hurry  away.  My  after 
noon  is  to  be  a  dull  one,  unless  you  permit  me  to 
watch  the  tennis  game,"  he  said. 

"  I  thought  you  were  interested  only  in  the  game 
of  war,"  she  said  pointedly. 

"  I  stand  in  greater  awe  of  a  tennis  ball  than  I  do 
of  a  cannonball,  if  it  is  sent  by  such  an  arm  as  yours," 
and  he  not  only  laid  his  eyes  but  his  hand  upon  her 
bare  arm.  She  started  as  if  something  had  stung 
her,  and  a  cold  shiver  raced  over  her  warm  flesh.  His 
eyes  for  the  moment  held  her  spellbound.  He  was 
drawing  the  hand  to  his  lips  when  a  shadow  dark 
ened  the  French  window,  and  a  saber  rattled  warn- 
ingly. 

Count  Marlanx  looked  up  instantly,  a  scowl  on  his 
face.  Baldos  stood  at  the  window  in  an  attitude  of 
alert  attention.  Beverly  drew  her  arm  away  spas 
modically  and  took  a  step  toward  the  window.  The 
guard  saw  by  her  eyes  that  she  was  frightened,  but, 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  163 

if  his  heart  beat  violently,  his  face  was  the  picture 
of  military  stoniness. 

"What  are  you  doing  there?"  snarled  the  count. 

"  Did  your  highness  call?  "  asked  Baldos   coolly. 

"  She  did  not  call,  fellow,"  said  the  count  with 
deadly  menace  in  his  voice.  "  Report  to  me  in  half 
an  hour.  You  still  have  something  to  learn,  I  see." 
Beverly  was  alarmed  by  the  threat  in  his  tones.  She 
saw  what  was  in  store  for  Baldos,  for  she  knew  quite 
as  well  as  Marlanx  that  the  guard  had  deliberately 
intervened  in  her  behalf. 

"  He  cannot  come  in  half  an  hour,"  she  cried 
quickly.  "  I  have  something  for  him  to  do,  Count 
Marlanx.  Besides,  I  think  I  did  call."  Both  men 
stared  at  her. 

"  My  ears  are  excellent,"  said  Marlanx   stiffly. 

"  I  fancy  Baldos's  must  be  even  better,  for  he 
heard  me,"  said  Beverly,  herself  once  more.  The 
shadow  of  a  smile  crossed  the  face  of  the  guard. 

"  He  is  impertinent,  insolent,  your  highness.  You 
will  report  to  me  to-morrow,  sir,  at  nine  o'clock  in 
Colonel  Quinnox's  quarters.  Now,  go !  "  commanded 
the  count. 

"  Wait  a  minute,  Baldos.  We  are  going  out,  too. 
Will  you  open  that  window  for  me?  "  Baldos  gladly 
took  it  as  a  command  and  threw  open  the  long  French 
window.  She  gave  him  a  grateful  glance  as  she 
stepped  through,  and  he  could  scarcely  conceal  the 
gleam  of  joy  that  shot  into  his  own  eyes.  The  dark 
scowl  on  the  count's  face  made  absolutely  no  impres- 


164       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

sion  upon  him.  He  closed  the  window  and  followed 
ten  paces  behind  the  couple. 

"  Your  guard  is  a  priceless  treasure,"  said  the 
count  grimly. 

"  That's  what  you  said  about  the  candlestick,"  said 
she  sweetly. 

She  was  disturbed  by  his  threat  to  reprimand 
Baldos.  For  some  time  her  mind  had  been  struggling 
with  what  the  count  had  said  about  "  the  lesson." 
It  grew  upon  her  that  her  friend  had  been  bullied 
and  humiliated,  perhaps  in  the  presence  of  spectators. 
Resentment  fired  her  curiosity  into  action.  While  the 
general  was  explaining  one  of  the  new  gun-carriages 
to  the  countess,  Beverly  walked  deliberately  over  to 
where  Baldos  was  standing.  Haddan's  knowledge  of 
English  was  exceedingly  limited,  and  he  could  under 
stand  but  little  of  the  rapid  conversation.  Standing 
squarely  in  front  of  Baldos,  she  questioned  him  in 
low  tones. 

"  What  did  he  mean  when  he  said  he  had  given  you 
a  lesson  ?  "  she  demanded.  His  eyes  gleamed  merrily. 

"  He  meant  to  alarm  your  highness." 

"  Didn't  he  give  you  a  talking  to  ?  " 

"  He  coached  me  in  ethics." 

"  You  are  evading  the  question,  sir.  Was  he  mean 
and  nasty  to  you?  Tell  me ;  I  want  to  know." 

"  Well,  he  said  things  that  a  soldier  must  endure. 
A  civilian  or  an  equal  might  have  run  him  through 
for  it,  your  highness."  A  flush  rose  to  his  checks 
and  his  lips  quivered  ever  so  slightly.  But  Beverly 
saw  and  understood.  Her  heart  was  in  her  eves. 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  165 

"  That  settles  it,"  she  said  rigidly.  "  You  are 
not  to  report  to  him  at  nine  to-morrow." 

"  But  he  will  have  me  shot,  your  highness,"  said 
he  gladly. 

"  He  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  You  are  my 
guard,"  and  her  eyes  were  gleaming  dangerously. 
Then  she  rejoined  the  group,  the  members  of  which 
had  been  watching  her  curiously.  "  Count  Mar- 
lanx,"  she  said,  with  entrancing  dimples,  "  will  you 
report  to  me  at  nine  to-morrow  morning?  " 

"  I  have  an  appointment,"  he  said  slowly,  but  with 
understanding. 

"  But  you  will  break  it,  I  am  sure,"  she  asserted 
confidently.  "  I  want  to  give  you  a  lesson  in  —  in 
lawn  tennis." 

Later  on,  when  the  victoria  was  well  away  from 
the  fort,  Dagmar  took  her  companion  to  task  for 
holding  in  public  friendly  discourse  with  a  member 
of  the  guard,  whoever  he  might  be. 

"  It  is  altogether  contrary  to  custom,  and r 

but  Beverly  put  her  hand  over  the  critical  lips  and 
smiled  like  a  guilty  child. 

"  Now,  don't  scold,"  she  pleaded,  and  the  countess 
could  go  no  further. 

The  following  morning  Count  Marlanx  reported 
at  nine  o'clock  with  much  better  grace  than  he  had 
suspected  himself  capable  of  exercising.  What  she 
taught  him  of  tennis  on  the  royal  courts,  in  the 
presence  of  an  amused  audience,  was  as  nothing  to 
what  he  learned  of  strategy  as  it  can  be  practiced 
by  a  whimsical  girl.  Almost  before  he  knew  it  she 


166       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

had  won  exemption  for  Baldos,  that  being  the  stake 
for  the  first  set  of  singles.  To  his  credit,  the  count 
was  game.  He  took  the  wager,  knowing  that  he,  in 
his  ignorance,  could  not  win  from  the  blithe  young 
expert  in  petticoats.  Then  he  offered  to  wager  the 
brass  candlestick  against  her  bracelet.  She  consid 
ered  for  a  moment  and  then,  in  a  spirit  of  enthusi 
asm,  accepted  the  proposition.  After  all,  she  coveted 
the  candlestick.  Half  an  hour  later  an  orderly  was 
riding  to  the  fort  with  instructions  to  return  at 
once  with  Miss  Calhoun's  candlestick.  It  is  on  record 
that  they  were  "  love  "  sets,  which  goes  to  prove  that 
Beverly  took  no  chances. 

Count  Marlanx,  puffing  and  perspiring,  his  joints 
dismayed  and  his  brain  confused,  rode  away  at  noon 
with  Baron  Dangloss.  Beverly,  quite  happy  in  her 
complete  victory,  enjoyed  a  nap  of  profound  sweet 
ness  and  then  was  ready  for  her  walk  with  the  princess. 
They  were  strolling  leisurely  about  the  beautiful 
grounds,  safe  in  the  shade  of  the  trees  from  the  heat 
of  the  July  sun,  when  Baron  Dangloss  approached. 

"  Your  royal  highness,"  he  began,  with  his  fierce 
smile,  "may  I  beg  a  moment's  audience?" 

"  It  has  to  do  with  Baldos,  I'll  take  oath,"  said 
Beverly,  with  conviction. 

"  Yes,  with  your  guard.  Yesterday  he  visited  the 
fortress.  He  went  in  an  official  capacity,  it  is  true, 
but  he  was  privileged  to  study  the  secrets  of  our  de 
fense  with  alarming  freedom.  It  would  not  surprise 
me  to  find  that  this  stranger  has  learned  everything 
there  is  to  know  about  the  fort."  His  listeners  were 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  167 

silent.  The  smiles  left  their  faces.  "  I  am  not  say 
ing  that  he  would  betray  us  — 

"  No,  no !  "  protested  Beverly. 

" but  he  is  in  a  position  to  give  the  most 

valuable  information  to  an  enemy.  An  officer  has 
just  informed  me  that  Baldos  missed  not  a  detail  in 
regard  to  the  armament,  or  the  location  of  vital  spots 
in  the  construction  of  the  fortress." 

"  But  he  wouldn't  be  so  base  as  to  use  his  knowledge 
to  our  undoing,"  cried  Yetive  seriously. 

"  We  only  know  that  he  is  not  one  of  us.  It  is  not 
beyond  reason  that  his  allegiance  is  to  another  power, 
Dawsbergen,  for  instance.  Count  Marlanx  is  not  at 
all  in  sympathy  with  him,  you  are  aware.  He  is 
convinced  that  Baldos  is  a  man  of  consequence,  possi 
bly  one  of  our  bitterest  enemies,  and  he  hates  him. 
For  my  own  part,  I  may  say  that  I  like  the  man. 
I  believe  he  is  to  be  trusted,  but  if  he  be  an  agent 
of  Volga  or  Gabriel,  his  opportunity  has  come.  He 
is  in  a  position  to  make  accurate  maps  of  the  fort 
and  of  all  our  masked  fortifications  along  the  city 
walls."  Beyond  a  doubt,  the  baron  was  worried. 

"  Neither  am  I  one  of  you,"  said  Beverly  stoutly. 
"  Why  shouldn't  I  prove  to  be  a  traitress  ?  " 

"  You  have  no  quarrel  with  us,  Miss  Calhoun,"  said 
Dangloss. 

"  If  anything  happens,  then,  I  am  to  be  blamed  for 
it,"  she  cried  in  deep  distress.  "  I  brought  him  to 
Edelweiss,  and  I  believe  in  him." 

"  For  his  own  sake,  your  highness,  and  Miss  Cal 
houn,  I  suggest  that  no  opportunity  should  be  given 


168       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

him  to  communicate  with  the  outside  world.  We 
cannot  accuse  him,  of  course,  but  we  can  prefect  him. 
I  come  to  ask  your  permission  to  have  him  detailed 
for  duty  only  in  places  where  no  suspicion  can  attach 
to  any  of  his  actions." 

"  You  mean  inside  the  city  walls?  "  asked  Yetive. 

"  Yes,  your  highness,  and  as  far  as  possible  from 
the  fortress." 

"  I  think  it  is  a  wise  precaution.  Don't  be  angry, 
Beverly,"  the  princess  said  gently.  "  It  is  for  his 
own  sake,  you  see.  I  am  acting  on  the  presumption 
that  he  is  wholly  innocent  of  any  desire  to  betray  us." 

"  It  would  be  easy  for  someone  high  in  position  to 
accuse  and  convict  him,"  said  Dangloss  meaningly. 

"  And  it  would  be  just  like  someone,  too,"  agreed 
Beverly,  her  thoughts,  with  the  others',  going  toward 
none  but  one  man  "  high  in  power." 

Later  in  the  day  she  called  Baldos  to  her  side  as 
they  were  riding  in  the  castle  avenue.  She  was  de 
termined  to  try  a  little  experiment  of  her  own. 

"  Baldos,  what  do  you  think  of  the  fortress?  "  she 
asked. 

"  I  could  overthrow  it  after  half  an  hour's  bom 
bardment,  your  highness,"  he  answered,  without 
thinking.  She  started  violently. 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  Are  there  so  many  weak  points  ?  ". 
she  went  on,  catching  her  breath. 

"  There  are  three  vital  points  of  weakness,  your 
highness.  The  magazine  can  be  reached  from  the 
outside  if  one  knows  the  lay  of  the  land ;  the  parade- 
ground  exposes  the  ammunition  building  to  certain 


A  VISIT  AND  ITS  CONSEQUENCES  169 

disadvantages,  and  the  big  guns  could  be  silenced  in 
an  hour  if  an  enemy  had  the  sense  first  to  bombard 
from  the  elevation  northeast  of  the  city." 

"  Good  heavens !  "  gasped  poor  Beverly.  "  Have 
you  studied  all  this  out?  " 

"  I  was  once  a  real  soldier,  your  highness,"  he  said, 
simply.  "  It  was  impossible  for  me  not  to  see  the 
defects  in  your  fort." 

"  You  —  you  haven't  told  anyone  of  this,  have 
you?"  she  cried,  white-faced  and  anxious. 

"  No  one  but  your  highness.  You  do  not  employ 
me  as  a  tale-bearer,  I  trust." 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  question  your  honor,"  she  said. 
"  Would  you  mind  going  before  the  heads  of  the  war 
department  and  tell  them  just  what  you  have  told  me? 
I  mean  about  the  weak  spots." 

"  If  it  is  your  command,  your  highness,"  he  said 
quietly,  but  he  was  surprised. 

"  You  may  expect  to  be  summoned  then,  so  hold 
yourself  in  readiness.  And,  Baldos " 

"  Yes,  your  highness?  " 

'  You  need  say  nothing  to  them  of  our  having 
talked  the  matter  over  beforehand  —  unless  they  pin 
you  down  to  it,  you  know," 


CHAPTER  XV 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS 

FEW  hours   later,   all  was   dark  and 
silent  within  the  castle.     On  the  stone 
walks  below,  the  steady  tread  of  senti 
nels  rose  on  the  still  air;  in  the  hall 
ways    the    trusted    guardsmen    glided 
about  like  spectres  or  stood  like  statues. 
An  hour  before  the  great  edifice  had  been  bright  and 
full  of  animation ;  now  it  slumbered. 

It  was  two  o'clock.  The  breath  of  roses  scented 
the  air,  the  gurgle  of  fountains  was  the  only  music 
that  touched  the  ear.  Beverly  Calhoun,  dismissing 
Aunt  Fanny,  stepped  from  her  window  out  upon  the 
great  stone  balcony.  A  rich  oriental  dressing-gown, 
loose  and  comfortable,  was  her  costume.  Something 
told  her  that  sleep  would  be  a  long  time  coming,  and 
an  hour  in  the  warm,  delightful  atmosphere  of  the 
night  was  more  attractive  than  the  close,  sleepless 
silence  of  her  own  room.  Every  window  along  the 
balcony  was  dark,  proving  that  the  entire  household 
had  retired  to  rest. 

She  was  troubled.  The  fear  had  entered  her  head 
that  the  castle  folk  were  regretting  the  advent  of 

170 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS       171 

Baldos,  that  everyone  was  questioning  the  wisdom  of 
his  being  in  the  position  he  occupied  through  her 
devices.  Her  talk  with  him  did  much  to  upset  her 
tranquillity.  That  he  knew  so  much  of  the  fortress 
bore  out  the  subtle  suspicions  of  Dangloss  and  per 
haps  others.  She  was  troubled,  not  that  she  doubted 
him,  but  that  if  anything  went  wrong  an  accusation 
against  him,  however  unjust,  would  be  difficult  to 
overcome.  And  she  would  be  to  blame,  in  a  large 
degree. 

For  many  minutes  she  sat  in  the  dark  shadow  of  a 
great  pillar,  her  elbows  upon  the  cool  balustrade,  star 
ing  dreamily  into  the  star-studded  vault  above.  Far 
away  in  the  air  she  could  see  the  tiny  yellow  lights 
of  the  monastery,  lonely  sentinel  on  the  mountain 
top.  From  the  heights  near  that  abode  of  peace  and 
penitence  an  enemy  could  destroy  the  fortress  to  the 
south.  Had  not  Baldos  told  her  so?  One  big  gun 
would  do  the  work  if  it  could  be  taken  to  that  alti 
tude.  Baldos  could  draw  a  perfect  map  of  the  for 
tress.  He  could  tell  precisely  where  the  shells  should 
fall.  And  already  the  chief  men  in  Edelweiss  were 
wondering  who  he  was  and  to  what  end  he  might 
utilize  his  knowledge.  They  were  watching  him, 
they  were  warning  her. 

For  the  first  time  since  she  came  to  the  castle,  she 
felt  a  sense  of  loneliness,  a  certain  unhappiness.  She 
could  not  shake  off  the  feeling  that  she  was,  after  all, 
alone  in  her  belief  in  Baldos.  Her  heart  told  her 
that  the  tall,  straightforward  fellow  she  had  met  in 
the  hills  was  as  honest  as  the  dav.  She  was  deceiv- 


172       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

ing  him,  she  realized,  but  he  was  misleading  no  one. 
Off  in  a  distant  part  of  the  castle  ground  she  could 
see  the  long  square  shadow  that  marked  the  location 
of  the  barracks  and  messroom.  There  he  was  sleep 
ing,  confidently  believing  in  her  and  her  power  to 
save  him  from  all  harm.  Something  in  her  soul  cried 
out  to  him  that  she  would  be  staunch  and  true,  and 
that  he  might  sleep  without  a  tremor  of  apprehensive- 
ness. 

Suddenly  she  smiled  nervously  and  drew  back  into 
the  shadow  of  the  pillar.  It  occurred  to  her  that  he 
might  be  looking  across  the  moon-lit  park,  looking 
directly  at  her  through  all  that  shadowy  distance. 
She  was  conscious  of  a  strange  glow  in  her  cheeks  and 
a  quickening  of  the  blood  as  she  pulled  the  folds  of 
her  gown  across  her  bare  throat. 

"  Not  the  moon,  nor  the  stars,  nor  the  light  in  St. 
Valentine's,  but  the  black  thing  away  off  there  on 
the  earth,"  said  a  soft  voice  behind  her,  and  Beverly 
started  as  if  the  supernatural  had  approached  her. 
She  turned  to  face  the  princess,  who  stood  almost 
at  her  side. 

"Yetive!     How  did  you  get  here?" 

"  That  is  what  you  are  looking  at,  dear,"  went  on 
Yetive,  as  if  completing  her  charge.  "  Why  are  you 
not  in  bed  ?  " 

"  And  you?  I  thought  you  were  sound  asleep  long 
ago,"  murmured  Beverly,  abominating  the  guilty 
feeling  that  came  over  her.  The  princess  threw  her 
arm  about  Beverly's  shoulder. 

"  I  have  been   watching  you   for  half  an   hour," 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS       173 

she  said  gently.  "  Can't  two  look  at  the  moon  and 
stars  as  well  as  one?  Isn't  it  my  grim  old  castle? 
Let  us  sit  here  together,  dear,  and  dream  awhile." 

"  You  dear  Yetive,"  and  Beverly  drew  her  down 
beside  her  on  the  cushions.  "  But,  listen :  I  want 
you  to  get  something  out  of  your  head.  I  was  not 
looking  at  anything  in  particular." 

"  Beverly,  I  believe  you  were  thinking  of  Baldos," 
said  the  other,  her  fingers  straying  fondly  across  the 
girl's  soft  hair. 

"  Ridiculous !  "  said  Beverly,  conscious  for  the  first 
time  that  he  was  seldom  out  of  her  thoughts.  The 
realization  came  like  a  blow,  and  her  eyes  grew  very 
wide  out  there  in  the  darkness. 

"  And  you  are  troubled  on  his  account.  I  know 
it,  dear.  You " 

"Well,  Yetive,  why  shouldn't  I  be  worried?  I 
brought  him  here  against  his  will,"  protested  Beverly. 
"  If  anything  should  happen  to  him  —  "  she  shud 
dered  involuntarily. 

"  Don't  be  afraid,  Beverly.  I  have  as  much  con  - 
fidence  in  him  as  you  have.  His  eyes  are  true.  Gren- 
fall  believes  in  him,  too,  and  so  does  Mr.  Anguish. 
Gren  says  he  would  swear  by  him,  no  matter  who 
he  is." 

"But  the   others?"   Beverly   whispered. 

"  Baron  Dangloss  is  his  friend,  and  so  is  Quin- 
nox.  They  know  a  man.  The  count  is  different." 

"  I  loathe  that  old  wretch !  " 

"  Hush !     He  has  not  wronged  you  in  any  way." 

"  But  he  has  been  unfair  and  mean  to  Baldos." 


174       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  It  is  a  soldier's  lot,  my  dear." 

"  But  he  may  be  Prince  Dantan  or  Frederic  or 
the  other  one,  don't  you  know,"  argued  Beverly, 
clenching  her  hands  firmly. 

"  In  that  event,  he  would  be  an  honorable  soldier, 
and  we  have  nothing  to  fear  in  him.  Neither  of  them 
is  our  enemy.  It  is  the  possibility  that  he  is  not  one 
of  them  that  makes  his  presence  here  look  dangerous." 

"  I  don't  want  to  talk  about  him,"  said  Beverly, 
but  she  was  disappointed  when  the  princess  oblig 
ingly  changed  the  subject. 

Baldos  was  not  surprised,  scarcely  more  than  inter 
ested,  when  a  day  or  two  later,  he  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  board  of  strategy.  If  anyone  had 
told  him,  however,  that  on  a  recent  night  a  pair  of 
dreamy  gray  eyes  had  tried  to  find  his  window  in  the 
great  black  shadow,  he  might  have  jumped  in  amaze 
ment  and  —  delight.  For  at  that  very  hour  he  was 
looking  off  toward  the  castle,  and  his  thoughts  were  of 
the  girl  who  drew  back  into  the  shadow  of  the  pillar. 

The  Graustark  ministry  had  received  news  from 
the  southern  frontier.  Messengers  came  in  with  the 
alarming  and  significant  report  that  Dawsbergen  was 
strengthening  her  fortifications  in  the  passes  and 
moving  war  supplies  northward.  It  meant  that 
Gabriel  and  his  people  expected  a  fight  and  were  pre 
paring  for  it.  Count  Halfont  hastily  called  the 
ministers  together,  and  Lorry  and  the  princess  took 
part  in  their  deliberations.  General  Marlanx  repre 
sented  the  army;  and  it  was  he  who  finally  asked  to 
have  Baldos  brought  before  the  council.  The  Iron 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS      175 

Count  plainly  intimated  that  the  new  guard  was  in 
a  position  to  transmit  valuable  information  to  the 
enemy.  Colonel  Quinnox  sent  for  him,  and  Baldos 
was  soon  standing  in  the  presence  of  Yetive  and  her 
advisers.  He  looked  about  him  with  a  singular  smile. 
The  one  whom  he  was  supposed  to  regard  as  the 
princess  was  not  in  the  council  chamber.  Lorry 
opened  the  examination  at  the  request  of  Count  Hal- 
font,  the  premier.  Baldos  quietly  answered  the  ques 
tions  concerning  his  present  position,  his  age,  his  term 
of  enlistment,  and  his  interpretations  of  the  obliga 
tions  required  of  him. 

"  Ask  him  who  he  really  is,"  suggested  the  Iron 
Count  sarcastically. 

"  We  can  expect  but  one  answer  to  that  question," 
said  Lorry,  "  and  that  is  the  one  which  he  chooses 
to  give." 

"  My  name  is  Baldos  —  Paul  Baldos,"  said  the 
guard,  but  he  said  it  in  such  a  way  that  no  one  could 
mistake  his  appreciation  of  the  fact  that  he  could 
give  one  name  as  well  as  another  and  still  serve  his 
own  purposes. 

"  That  is  lie  number  one,"  observed  Marlanx  loudly. 
Every  eye  was  turned  upon  Baldos,  but  his  face  did 
not  lose  its  half-mocking  expression  of  serenity. 

"  Proceed  with  the  examination,  Mr.  Lorry,"  said 
Count  Halfont,  interpreting  a  quick  glance  from 
Yetive. 

"  Are  you  willing  to  answer  any  and  all  questions 
we  may  ask  in  connection  with  your  observations  since 


176       BEVERLY   OF    GRAUSTARK 

you  became  a  member  of  the  castle  guard?  "  asked 
Lorry. 

"  I  am." 

"  Did  you  take  especial  care  to  study  the  interior 
of  the  fortress  when  you  were  there  several  days 
ago?  " 

"I  did." 

"  Have  you  discussed  your  observations  with  any 
one  since  that  time  ?  " 

"  I  have." 

"With  whom?" 

"  With  her  highness,  the  princess,"  said  Baldos, 
without  a  quiver.  There  was  a  moment's  silence,  and 
furtive  looks  were  cast  in  the  direction  of  Yetive, 
whose  face  was  a  study.  Almost  instantaneously  the 
entire  body  of  listeners  understood  that  he  referred 
to  Beverly  Calhoun.  Baldos  felt  that  he  had  been 
summoned  before  the  board  at  the  instigation  of  his 
fair  protectress. 

"  And  your  impressions  have  gone  no  further?  " 

"  They  have  not,  sir.     It  was  most  confidential." 

"  Could  you  accurately  reproduce  the  plans  of  the 
fortress  ?  " 

"  I  think  so.     It  would  be  very  simple." 

"  Have  you  studied  engineering?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  could  scientifically  enumerate  the  de 
fects  in  the  construction  of  the  fort?  " 

"  It  would  not  be  very  difficult,  sir." 

"  It  has  come  to  our  ears  that  you  consider  the  for- 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS       177 

tress  weak  in  several  particulars.  Have  you  so  stated 
at  any  time  ?  " 

"  I  told  the  princess  that  the  fortress  is  deplorably 
weak.  In  fact,  I  think  I  mentioned  that  it  could  be 
taken  with  ease."  He  was  not  looking  at  Count  Mar- 
lanx,  but  he  knew  that  the  old  man's  eyes  were  flam 
ing.  Then  he  proceeded  to  tell  the  board  how  he 
could  overcome  the  fortress,  elaborating  en  his  re 
marks  to  Beverly.  The  ministers  listened  in  won- 
ler  to  the  words  of  this  cairn,  indifferent  young  man. 

"  Will  you  oblige  us  by  making  a  rough  draft  of 
the  fort's  interior? "  asked  Lorry,  after  a  solemn 
pause.  Baldos  took  the  paper  and  in  remarkably 
quick  time  drew  the  exact  lay  of  the  fortress.  The 
sketch  went  the  rounds  and  apprehensive  looks  were 
exchanged  by  the  ministers. 

"  It  is  accurate,  by  Jove,"  exclaimed  Lorry.  "  I 
doubt  if  a  dweller  in  the  fort  could  do  better.  You 
must  have  been  very  observing." 

"  And  very  much  interested,"  snarled  Marlanx. 

"  Only  so  far  as  I  imagined  my  observations  might 
be  of  benefit  to  someone  else,"  said  Baldos  coolly. 
Again  the  silence  was  like  death. 

"Do  you  know  what  you  are  saying,  Baldos?" 
asked  Lorry,  after  a  moment. 

"  Certainly,  Mr.  Lorry.  It  is  the  duty  of  any 
servant  of  her  highness  to  give  her  all  that  he  has  in 
him.  If  my  observations  can  be  of  help  to  her,  I 
feel  in  duty  bound  to  make  the  best  of  them  for 
her  sake,  not  for  my  own." 

"  Perhaps    you   can    suggest   modifications    in   the 


178        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

fort,"  snarled  Marlanx.  "  Why  don't  you  do  it, 
sir,  and  let  us  have  the  benefit  of  your  superior  intelli 
gence?  No,  gentlemen,  all  this  prating  of  loyalty 
need  not  deceive  us,"  he  cried,  springing  to  his  feet. 
"  The  fellow  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  infernal 
spy  —  and  the  Tower  is  the  place  for  him !  He  can 
do  no  harm  there." 

"  If  it  were  my  intention  to  do  harm,  gentlemen, 
do  you  imagine  that  I  should  withhold  my  informa 
tion  for  days?  "  asked  Baldos.  "  If  I  am  a  spy, 
you  may  rest  assured  that  Count  Marlanx's  kindnesses 
should  not  have  been  so  long  disregarded.  A  spy  does 
not  believe  in  delays." 

"  My  —  my  kindnesses?  "  cried  Marlanx.  "  What 
do  you  mean,  sir?  " 

"  I  mean  this,  Count  Marlanx,"  said  Baldos,  look 
ing  steadily  into  the  eyes  of  the  head  of  the  army. 
"  It  was  kind  and  considerate  of  you  to  admit  me 
to  the  fortress  —  no  matter  in  what  capacity,  espe 
cially  at  a  critical  time  like  this.  You  did  not  know 
me,  you  had  no  way  of  telling  whether  my  intentions 
were  honest  or  otherwise,  and  yet  I  was  permitted  to 
go  through  the  fort  from  end  to  end.  No  spy  could 
wish  for  greater  generosity  than  that." 

An  almost  imperceptible  smile  went  round  the  table, 
and  every  listener  but  one  breathed  more  freely. 
The  candor  and  boldness  of  the  guard  won  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  all  except  Marlanx.  The  Iron 
Count  was  white  with  anger.  He  took  the  examina 
tion  out  of  Lorry's  hands,  and  plied  the  stranger  with 
insulting  questions,  each  calm  answer  making  him 


THE    TESTING    OF    BALDOS       179 

more  furious  than  before.  At  last,  in  sheer  im 
potence,  he  relapsed  into  silence,  waving  his  hand 
to  Lorry  to  indicate  that  he  might  resume. 

**  You  will  understand,  Baldos,  that  we  have  some 
cause  for  apprehension,"  said  Lorry,  immensely  grati 
fied  by  the  outcome  of  the  tilt.  "  You  are  a  stranger ; 
and,  whether  you  admit  it  or  not,  there  is  reason  to 
believe  that  you  are  not  what  you  represent  yourself 
to  be." 

"  I  am  a  humble  guard  at  present,  sir,  and  a  loyal 
one.  My  life  is  yours  should  I  prove  otherwise." 

Yetive  whispered  something  in  Lorry's  ear  at  this 
juncture.  She  was  visibly  pleased  and  excited.  He 
looked  doubtful  for  an  instant,  and  then  apparently 
followed  her  suggestion,  regardless  of  consequences. 

"  Would  you  be  willing  to  utilize  your  knowledge 
as  an  engineer  by  suggesting  means  to  strengthen 
the  fortress?"  The  others  stared  in  fresh  amaze 
ment.  Marlanx  went  as  white  as  death. 

"  Never !  "  he  blurted  out   hoarsely. 

"  I  will  do  anything  the  princess  commands  me 
to  do,"  said  Baldos  easily. 

"  You  mean  that  you  serve  her  only  ?  " 

"  I  serve  her  first,  sir.  If  she  were  here  she  could 
command  me  to  die,  and  there  would  be  an  end  to 
Baldos,"  and  he  smiled  as  he  said  it.  The  real  prin 
cess  looked  at  him  with  a  new,  eager  expression,  as  if 
something  had  just  become  clear  to  her.  There  was 
a  chorus  of  coughs  and  a  round  of  sly  looks. 

"  She  could  hardly  ask  you  to  die,"  said  Yetive, 
addressing  him  for  the  first  time. 


180       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  A  princess  is  like  April  weather,  madam,"  said 
Baldos,  with  rare  humor,  and  the  laugh  was  general. 
Yetive  resolved  to  talk  privately  with  this  excellent 
wit  before  the  hour  was  over.  She  was  confident  that 
he  knew  her  to  be  the  princess. 

"  I  would  like  to  ask  the  fellow  another  question," 
said  Marlanx,  fingering  his  sword-hilt  nervously. 
"  You  say  you  serve  the  princess.  Do  you  mean  by 
that  that  you  imagine  your  duties  as  a  soldier  to  com 
prise  dancing  polite  attendance  within  the  security 
of  these  walls?  " 

"  I  believe  I  enlisted  as  a  member  of  the  castle 
guard,  sir.  The  duty  of  the  guard  is  to  protect  the 
person  of  the  ruler  of  Graustark,  and  to  do  that  to 
the  death." 

"  It  is  my  belief  that  you  are  a  spy.  You  can  show 
evidence  of  good  faith  by  enlisting  to  fight  against 
Dawsbergen  and  by  shooting  to  kill,"  said  the  count, 
with  a  sinister  gleam  in  his  eye. 

"  And  if  I  decline  to  serve  in  any  other  capacity 
than  the  one  I  now  — 

"  Then  I  shall  brand  you  as  a  spy  and  a  coward." 

"  You  have  already  called  me  a  spy,  your  excel  • 
lency.  It  will  not  make  it  true,  let  me  add,  if  you 
call  me  a  coward.  I  refuse  to  take  up  arms  against 
either  Dawsbergen  or  Axphain." 

The  remark  created  a  profound  sensation. 

"  Then  you  are  employed  by  both  instead  of  one ! " 
shouted  the  Iron  Count  gleefully. 

"  I  am  employed  as  a  guard  for  her  royal  high 
ness,"  said  Baldos,  with  a  square  glance  at  Yetive, 
"  and  not  as  a  fighter  in  the  ranks.  I  will  fight  till 
death  for  her,  but  not  for  Graustark." 


CHAPTER  XVI 


02V  THE   WAY  TO  ST.   VALENTINE'S 

Y  Jove,  I  like  that  fellow's  coolness," 
said  Lorry  to  Harry  Anguish,  after 
the  meeting.  "  He's  after  my  own 
heart.  Why,  he  treats  us  as  though 
we  were  the  suppliants,  he  the  alms- 
giver.  He  is  playing  a  game,  I'll 
admit,  but  he  does  it  with  an  assurance  that  delights 


me. 


"  He  is  right  about  that  darned  old  fort,"  said 
Anguish.  "  His  knowledge  of  such  things  proves 
conclusively  that  he  is  no  ordinary  person." 

"  Yetive  had  a  bit  of  a  talk  with  him  just  now," 
said  Lorry,  with  a  reflective  smile.  "  She  asked  him 
point  blank  if  he  knew  who  she  was.  He  did  not 
hesitate  a  second.  *  I  remember  seeing  you  in  the 
audience  chamber  recently.'  That  was  a  facer  for 
Yetive.  '  I  assure  you  that  it  was  no  fault  of  mine 
that  you  saw  me,'  she  replied.  '  Then  it  must  have 
been  your  friend  who  rustled  the  curtains  ? '  saH  the 
confounded  bluffer.  Yetive  couldn't  keep  a  straight 
face.  She  laughed  and  then  he  laughed.  '  Some 
day  you  may  learn  more  about  me,'  she  said  to  him. 
'  I  sincerely  trust  that  I  may,  madam,'  said  he,  and 

181 


182       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

I'll  bet  my  hat  he  was  enjoying  it  better  than  either 
of  us.  Of  course,  he  knows  Yetive  is  the  princess. 
It's  his  intention  to  serve  Beverly  Calhoun,  •  and  he 
couldn't  do  it  if  he  were  to  confess  that  he  knows 
the  truth.  He's  no  fool." 

Baldos  was  not  long  in  preparing  plans  for  the 
changes  in  the  fortress.  They  embodied  a  tempo 
rary  readjustment  of  the  armament  and  alterations 
in  the  ammunition  house.  The  gate  leading  to  the 
river  was  closed  and  the  refuse  from  the  fort  was 
taken  to  the  barges  by  way  of  the  main  entrance. 
There  were  other  changes  suggested  for  immediate 
consideration,  and  then  there  was  a  general  plan  for 
the  modernizing  of  the  fortress  at  some  more  con 
venient  time.  Baldos  laconically  observed  that  the 
equipment  was  years  behind  the  times.  To  the 
amazement  of  the  officials,  he  was  able  to  talk  intelli 
gently  of  forts  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  revealing 
a  wide  and  thorough  knowledge  and  extensive  inspec 
tion.  He  had  seen  American  as  well  as  European 
fortifications.  The  Graustark  engineers  went  to 
work  at  once  to  perfect  the  simple  changes  he  advised, 
leaving  no  stone  unturned  to  strengthen  the  place 
before  an  attack  could  be  made. 

Two,  three  weeks  went  by  and  the  new  guard  was 
becoming  an  old  story  to  the  castle  and  army  folk. 
He  rode  with  Beverly  every  fair  day  and  he  looked 
at  her  window  by  night  from  afar  off  in  the  sombre 
barracks.  She  could  not  dissipate  the  feeling  that  he 
knew  her  to  be  other  than  the  princess,  although  he 
betrayed  himself  by  no  word  or  sign.  She  was  en- 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  ST.  VALENTINE'S  183 

joying  the  fun  of  it  too  intensely  to  expose  it  to 
the  risk  of  destruction  by  revealing  her  true  identity 
to  him.  Logically,  that  would  mean  the  end  of 
everything.  No  doubt  he  felt  the  same  and  kept  his 
counsel.  But  the  game  could  not  last  forever,  that 
was  certain.  A  month  or  two  more,  and  Beverly 
would  have  to  think  of  the  return  to  Washington. 

His  courage,  his  cool  impudence,  his  subtle  wit 
charmed  her  more  than  she  could  express.  Now  she 
was  beginning  to  study  him  from  a  standpoint  pecul 
iarly  and  selfishly  her  own.  Where  recently  she  had 
sung  his  praises  to  Yetive  and  others,  she  now  was 
strangely  reticent.  She  was  to  understand  another 
day  why  this  change  had  come  over  her.  Stories 
of  his  cleverness  came  to  her  ears  from  Lorry  and 
Anguish  and  even  from  Dangloss.  She  was  proud, 
vastly  proud  of  him  in  these  days.  The  Iron  Count 
alone  discredited  the  ability  and  the  conscientiousness 
of  the  "  mountebank,"  as  he  named  the  man  who  had 
put  his  nose  out  of  joint.  Beverly,  seeing  much  of 
Marlanx,  made  the  mistake  of  chiding  him  frankly 
and  gaity  about  this  aversion.  She  even  argued 
the  guard's  case  before  the  head  of  the  army,  im 
prudently  pointing  out  many  of  his  superior  quali 
ties  in  advocating  his  cause.  The  count  was  learn 
ing  forbearance  in  his  old  age.  He  saw  the  wisdom 
of  procrastination.  Baldos  was  in  favor,  but  some 
day  there  would  come  a  time  for  his  undoing. 

In  the  barracks  he  was  acquiring  fame.  Reports 
went  forth  with  unbiased  freedom.  He  established 
himself  as  the  best  swordsman  in  the  service,  as  well 


184.       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

as  the  most  efficient  marksman.  With  the  foils  and 
sabers  he  easily  vanquished  the  foremost  fencers  in 
high  and  low  circles.  He  could  ride  like  a  Cossack 
or  like  an  American  cowboy.  Of  them  all,  his  warm 
est  admirer  was  Haddan,  the  man  set  to  watch  him 
for  the  secret  service.  It  may  be  timely  to  state 
that  Haddan  watched  in  vain. 

The  princess,  humoring  her  own  fancy  as  well  as 
Beverly's  foibles,  took  to  riding  with  her  high-spir 
ited  young  guest  on  many  a  little  jaunt  to  the  hills. 
She  usually  rode  with  Lorry  or  Anguish,  cheerfully 
assuming  the  subdued  position  befitting  a  lady-in- 
waiting  apparently  restored  to  favor  on  proba 
tion.  She  enjoyed  Beverly's  unique  position.  In 
order  to  maintain  her  attitude  as  princess,  the  fair 
young  deceiver  was  obliged  to  pose  in  the  extremely 
delectable  attitude  of  being  Lorry's  wife. 

"  How  can  you  expect  the  paragon  to  make  love 
to  you,  dear,  if  he  thinks  you  are  another  man's 
wife?  "  Yetive  asked,  her  blue  eyes  beaming  with  the 
fun  of  it  all. 

"  Pooh !  "  sniffed  Beverly.  "  You  have  only  to 
consult  history  to  find  the  excuse.  It's  the  dear  old 
habit  of  men  to  make  love  to  queens  and  get  beheaded 
for  it.  Besides,  he  is  not  expected  to  make  love  to 
me.  How  in  the  world  did  you  get  that  into  your 
head?" 

On  a  day  soon  after  the  return  of  Lorry  and  An 
guish  from  a  trip  to  the  frontier,  Beverly  expressed 
a  desire  to  visit  the  monastery  of  St.  Valentine,  high 
on  the  mountain  top.  It  was  a  long  ride  over  the 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  ST.  VALENTINE'S  185 

circuitous  route  by  which  the  steep  incline  was  avoided 
and  it  was  necessary  for  the  party  to  make  an  early 
start.  Yetive  rode  with  Harry  Anguish  and  his  wife 
the  countess,  while  Beverly's  companion  was  the  gal 
lant  Colonel  Quinnox.  Baldos,  relegated  to  the  back 
ground,  brought  up  the  rear  with  Haddan. 

For  a  week  or  more  Beverly  had  been  behaving 
toward  Baldos  in  the  most  cavalier  fashion.  Her 
friends  had  been  teasing  her ;  and,  to  her  own  intense 
amazement,  she  resented  it.  The  fact  that  she  felt 
the  sting  of  their  sly  taunts  was  sufficient  to  arouse 
in  her  the  distressing  conviction  that  he  had  become 
important  enough  to  prove  embarrassing.  While 
confessing  to  herself  that  it  was  a  bit  treacherous  and 
weak,  she  proceeded  to  ignore  Baldos  with  astonish 
ing  persistency.  Apart  from  the  teasing,  it  seemed 
to  her  of  late  that  he  was  growing  a  shade  too  confi 
dent. 

He  occasionally  forgot  his  differential  air,  and 
relaxed  into  a  very  pleasing  but  highly  reprehensible 
state  of  friendliness.  A  touch  of  the  old  jauntiness 
cropped  out  here  and  there,  a  tinge  of  the  old  irony 
marred  his  otherwise  perfect  mien  as  a  soldier.  His 
laugh  was  freer,  his  eyes  less  under  subjugation,  his 
entire  personality  more  arrogant.  It  was  time, 
thought  she  resentfully,  that  his  temerity  should  meet 
some  sort  of  check. 

And,  moreover,  she  had  dreamed  of  him  two  nights 
in  succession. 

How  well  her  plan  succeeded  may  best  be  illus 
trated  by  saying  that  she  now  was  in  a  most  uncom- 


186       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

fortable  frame  of  mind.  Baldos  refused  to  be  prop 
erly  depressed  by  his  misfortune.  He  retired  to  the 
oblivion  she  provided  and  seemed  disagreeably  con 
tent.  Apparently,  it  made  very  little  difference  to 
him  whether  he  was  in  or  out  of  favor.  Beverly 
was  in  high  dudgeon  and  low  spirits. 

The  party  rode  forth  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morn 
ing.  It  was  hot  in  the  city,  but  it  looked  cold  and 
bleak  on  the  heights.  Comfortable  wraps  were  taken 
along,  and  provision  was  made  for  luncheon  at  an 
inn  half  way  up  the  slope.  Quinnox  regaled  Beverly 
with  stories  in  which  Grenfall  Lorry  was  the  hero  and 
Yetive  the  heroine.  He  told  her  of  the  days  when 
Lorry,  a  fugitive  with  a  price  upon  his  head,  charged 
with  the  assassination  of  Prince  Lorenz,  then  be 
trothed  to  the  princess,  lay  hidden  in  the  monastery 
while  Yetive's  own  soldiers  hunted  high  and  low  for 
him.  The  narrator  dwelt  glowingly  upon  the  trip 
from  the  monastery  to  the  city  walls  one  dark  night 
when  Lorry  came  down  to  surrender  himself  in  order 
to  shidd  the  woman  he  loved,  and  Quinnox  himself 
piloted  him  through  the  underground  passage  into 
the  very  heart  of  the  castle.  Then  came  the  excit 
ing  scene  in  which  Lorry  presented  himself  as  a 
prisoner,  with  the  denouement  that  saved  the  princess 
and  won  for  the  gallant  American  the  desire  of  his 
heart. 

"  What  a  brave  fellow  he  was ! "  cried  Beverly,  who 
never  tired  of  hearing  the  romantic  story. 

"  Ah,  he  was  wonderful,  Miss  Calhoun.  I  fought 
him  to  keep  him  from  surrendering.  He  beat  me, 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  ST.  VALENTINE'S  187 

and  I  was  virtually  his  prisoner  when  we  appeared 
before  the  tribunal." 

"  It's  no  wonder  she  loved  him  and  —  married 
him." 

"  He  deserved  the  best  that  life  could  give,  Miss 
Calhoun." 

"  You  had  better  not  call  me  Miss  Calhoun,  Colonel 
Quinnox,"  said  she,  looking  back  apprehensively.  "  I 
am  a  highness  once  in  a  while,  don't  you  know  ?  " 

" '.''.  implore  your  highness's  pardon ! "  said  he 
gaily. 

The  riders  ahead  had  come  to  a  standstill  and  were 
pointing  off  into  the  pass  to  their  right.  They  were 
eight  or  ten  miles  from  the  city  gates  and  more  than 
half  way  up  the  winding  road  that  ended  at  the  mon 
astery  gates.  Beverly  and  Quinnox  came  up  with 
them  and  found  all  eyes  centered  on  a  small  company 
of  men  encamped  in  the  rocky  defile  a  hundred  yards 
from  the  main  road. 

It  needed  but  a  glance  to  tell  her  who  comprised 
the  unusual  company.  The  very  raggedness  of  their 
garments,  the  unforgetable  disregard  for  conse 
quences,  the  impudent  ease  with  whicjj  they  faced 
poverty  and  wealth  alike,  belonged  to  but  one  set  of 
men  —  the  vagabonds  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven.  Bev 
erly  went  a  shade  whiter;  her  interest  in  everything 
else  flagged,  and  she  was  lost  in  bewilderment.  What 
freak  of  fortune  had  sent  these  men  out  of  the  fast 
nesses  into  this  dangerously  open  place? 

She  recognized  the  ascetic  Ravone,  with  his  stu 
dent's  face  and  beggar's  garb.  Old  Franz  was  there, 


188        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTAKK 

and  so  were  others  whose  faces  and  heterogeneous  gar 
ments  had  become  so  familiar  to  her  in  another  day. 
The  tall  leader  with  the  red  feather,  the  rakish  hat 
and  the  black  patch  alone  was  missing  from  the  pic 
ture. 

"  It's  the  strangest-looking  crew  I've  ever  seen," 
said  Anguish.  "  They  look  like  pirates." 

"  Or  gyp8*68?"  suggested  Yetive.  "  Who  are  they, 
Colonel  Quinnox?  What  are  they  doing  here?" 
Quinnox  was  surveying  the  vagabonds  with  a  critical, 
suspicious  eye. 

"  They  are  not  robbers  or  they  would  be  off  like 
rabbits,"  he  said  reflectively.  "  Your  highness,  there 
are  many  roving  bands  in  the  hills,  but  I  confess  that 
these  men  are  unlike  any  I  have  heard  about.  With 
your  permission,  I  will  ride  down  and  question  them." 

"  Do,  Quinnox.     I  am  most  curious." 

Beverly  sat  very  still  and  tense.  She  was  afraid 
to  look  at  Baldos,  who  rode  up  as  Quinnox  started 
into  the  narrow  defile,  calling  to  the  escort  to  fol 
low.  The  keen  eyes  of  the  guard  caught  the  situ 
ation  at  once.  Miss  Calhoun  shot  a  quick  glance  at 
him  as  he  rode  up  beside  her.  His  face  was  im 
passive,  but  she  could  see  his  hand  clench  the  bridle- 
rein,  and  there  was  an  air  of  restraint  in  his  whole 
bearing. 

"  Remember  your  promise,"  he  whispered  hoarsely. 
"  No  harm  must  come  to  them."  Then  he  was  off 
into  the  defile.  Anguish  was  not  to  be  left  behind. 
He  followed,  and  then  Beverly,  more  venturesome  and 
vastly  more  interested  than  the  others,  rode  recklessly 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  ST.  VALENTINE'S  189 

after.  Quinnox  was  questioning  the  laconic  Ravone 
when  she  drew  rein.  The  vagabonds  seemed  to  evince 
but  little  interest  in  the  proceedings.  They  stood 
away  in  disdainful  aloofness.  No  sign  of  recogni 
tion  passed  between  them  and  Baldos. 

In  broken,  jerky  sentences,  Ravone  explained  to 
the  colonel  that  they  were  a  party  of  actors  on  their 
way  to  Edelweiss,  but  that  they  had  been  advised  to 
give  the  place  a  wide  berth.  Now  they  were  making 
the  best  of  a  hard  journey  to  Serros,  where  they 
expected  but  little  better  success.  He  produced  cer 
tain  papers  of  identification  which  Quinnox  examined 
and  approved,  much  to  Beverly's  secret  amazement. 
The  princess  and  the  colonel  exchanged  glances  and 
afterwards  a  few  words  in  subdued  tones.  Yetive 
looked  furtively  at  Beverly  and  then  at  Baldos  as  if 
to  enquire  whether  these  men  were  the  goat-hunters 
she  had  come  to  know  by  word  of  mouth.  The  two 
faces  were  hopelessly  non-committal. 

Suddenly  Baldos's  horse  reared  and  began  to 
plunge  as  if  in  terror,  so  that  the  rider  kept  his  seat 
only  by  means  of  adept  horsemanship.  Ravone 
leaped  forward  and  at  the  risk  of  injury  clutched  the 
plunging  steed  by  the  bit.  Together  they  partially 
subdued  the  animal  and  Baldos  swung  to  the  ground 
at  Ravone's  side.  Miss  Calhoun's  horse  in  the  mean 
time  had  caught  the  fever.  He  pranced  off  to  the 
roadside  before  she  could  get  him  under  control. 

She  was  thus  in  a  position  to  observe  the  two  men 
on  the  ground.  Shielded  from  view  by  the  body  of 
the  horse,  they  were  able  to  put  the  finishing  touches 


190       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

to  the  trick  Baldos  had  cleverly  worked.  Beverly 
distinctly  saw  the  guard  and  the  beggar  exchange 
bits  of  paper,  with  glances  that  meant  more  than  the 
words  they  were  unable  to  utter. 

Baldos  pressed  into  Ravone's  hand  a  note  of  some 
bulk  and  received  in  exchange  a  mere  slip  of  paper. 
The  papers  disappeared  as  if  by  magic,  and  the  guard 
was  remounting  his  horse  before  he  saw  that  the  act 
had  been  detected.  The  expression  of  pain  and  des 
pair  in  Beverly's  face  sent  a  cold  chill  over  him  from 
head  to  foot. 

She  turned  sick  with  apprehension.  Her  faith  had 
received  a  stunning  blow.  Mutely  she  watched  the 
vagabonds  withdraw  in  peace,  free  to  go  where  they 
pleased.  The  excursionists  turned  to  the  main  road. 
Baldos  fell  back  to  his  accustomed  place,  his  implor 
ing  look  wasted.  She  was  strangely,  inexplicably 
depressed  for  the  rest  of  the  day,, 


CHAPTER  XVII 


A  NOTE  TRANSLATED 

HE  was  torn  by  conflicting  emotions. 
That  the  two  friends  had  surrep 
titiously  exchanged  messages,  doubt 
less  by  an  arrangement  perfected  since 
he  had  entered  the  service  —  possibly 
within  the  week  —  could  not  be  dis 
puted.  When  and  how  had  they  planned  the 
accidental  meeting?  What  had  been  their  method 
of  communication?  And,  above  all,  what  were  the 
contents  of  the  messages  exchanged?  Were  they 
of  a  purely  personal  nature,  or  did  they  compre 
hend  injury  to  the  principality  of  Graustark? 
Beverly  could  not,  in  her  heart,  feel  that  Baldos  was 
doing  anything  inimical  to  the  country  he  served,  and 
yet  her  duty  and  loyalty  to  Yetive  made  it  impera 
tive  that  the  transaction  should  be  reported  at  once. 
A  word  to  Quinnox  and  Ravone  would  be  seized  and 
searched  for  the  mysterious  paper.  This,  however, 
looked  utterly  unreasonable,  for  the  vagabonds  were 
armed  and  in  force,  while  Yetive  was  accompanied  by 
but  three  men  who  could  be  depended  upon.  Baldos, 
under  the  conditions,  was  not  to  be  reckoned  upon  for 
support.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  meant  no  harm, 

191 


192       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

it  would  be  cruel,  even  fatal,  to  expose  him  to  this 
charge  of  duplicity.  And  while  she  turned  these 
troublesome  alternatives  over  in  her  mind,  the  oppor 
tunity  to  act  was  lost.  Ravone  and  his  men  were 
gone,  and  the  harm,  if  any  was  intended,  was  done. 

From  time  to  time  she  glanced  back  at  the  guard. 
His  face  was  imperturbable,  even  sphinx-like  in  its 
steadiness.  She  decided  to  hold  him  personally  to 
account.  At  the  earliest  available  moment  she  would 
demand  an  explanation  of  his  conduct,  threatening 
him  if  necessary.  If  he  proved  obdurate  there  was 
but  one  course  left  open  to  her.  She  would  deliver 
him  up  to  the  justice  he  had  outraged.  Hour  after 
hour  went  by,  and  Beverly  suffered  more  than  she 
could  have  told.  The  damage  was  done,  and  the 
chance  to  undo  it  was  slipping  farther  and  farther  out 
of  her  grasp.  She  began  to  look  upon  herself  as  the 
vilest  of  traitors.  There  was  no  silver  among  the 
clouds  that  marred  her  thoughts  that  afternoon. 

It  was  late  in  the  day  when  the  party  returned  to 
the  castle,  tired  out.  Beverly  was  the  only  one  who 
had  no  longing  to  seek  repose  after  the  fatiguing 
trip.  Her  mind  was  full  of  unrest.  It  was  neces 
sary  to  question  Baldos  at  once.  There  could  be  no 
peace  for  her  until  she  learned  the  truth  from  him. 
The  strain  became  so  great  that  at  last  she  sent  word 
for  him  to  attend  her  in  the  park.  He  was  to  accom 
pany  the  men  who  carried  the  sedan  chair  in  which 
she  had  learned  to  sit  with  a  delightful  feeling  of 
being  in  the  eighteenth  century. 

In  a  far  corner  of  the  grounds,  now  gray  in  the 


A    NOTE    TRANSLATED  193 

early  dusk,  Beverly  bade  the  bearers  to  set  down  her 
chair  and  leave  her  in  quiet  for  a  few  minutes.  The 
two  men  withdrew  to  a  respectful  distance,  where 
upon  she  called  Baldos  to  her  side.  Her  face  was 
flushed  with  anxiety. 

"  You  must  tell  me  the  truth  about  that  transaction 
with  Ravone,"  she  said,  coming  straight  to  the  point. 

"  I  was  expecting  this,  your  highness,"  said  he 
quietly.  The  shadows  of  night  were  falling,  but  she 
could  distinguish  the  look  of  anxiety  in  his  dark  eyes. 

"Well?"  she  insisted    impatiently. 

"  You  saw  the  notes  exchanged?  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  and  I  command  you  to  tell  me  what  they 
contained.  It  was  the  most  daring  thing  I  — 

"  You  highness,  I  cannot  tell  you  what  passed  be 
tween  us.  It  would  be  treacherous,"  he  said  firmly. 
Beverly  gasped  in  sheer  amazement. 

"  Treacherous?  Good  heaven,  sir,  to  whom  do  you 
owe  allegiance  —  to  me  or  to  Ravone  and  that  band 
of  tramps  ?  "  she  cried,  with  eyes  afire. 

"  To  both,  your  highness,"  he  answered  so  fairly 
that  she  was  for  the  moment  abashed.  "  I  am  loyal 
to  you  —  loyal  to  the  heart's  core,  and  yet  I  am  loyal 
to  that  unhappy  band  of  tramps,  as  you  choose  to 
call  them.  They  are  my  friends.  You  are  only  my 
sovereign." 

"  And    you    won't    tell    me    what    passed    between 

you?  "  she  said,  angered  by  this  epigrammatic  remark. 

"  I  cannot  and  be  true  to  myself." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  glorious  soldier,"  she  exclaimed, 

with   fierce   sarcasm    in    her   voice.      "  You   speak    of 


194       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

being  true !     I  surprise  you  in  the  very  act  of " 

"  Stay,  your  highness !  "  he  said  coldly.  "  You  are 
about  to  call  me  a  spy  and  a  traitor.  Spare  me,  I 
implore  you,  that  humiliation.  I  have  sworn  to  serve 
you  faithfully  and  loyally.  I  have  not  deceived  you, 
and  I  shall  not.  Paul  Baldos  has  wronged  no  man, 
no  woman.  What  passed  between  Ravone  and  myself 
concerns  us  only.  It  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  af 
fairs  of  Graustark." 

"  Of  course  you  would  say  that.  You  wouldn't 
be  fool  enough  to  tell  the  truth,"  cried  she  hotly.  "  I 
am  the  fool !  I  have  trusted  you  and  if  anything  goes 
wrong  I  alone  am  to  blame  for  exposing  poor  Grau 
stark  to  danger.  Oh,  why  didn't  I  cry  out  this  after 
noon  ?  " 

"  I  knew  you  would  not,"  he  said,  with  cool  uncon 
cern. 

"Insolence!  What  do  you  mean  by  that?"  she 
cried  in  confusion. 

"  In  your  heart  you  knew  I  was  doing  no  wrong. 
You  shielded  me  then  as  you  have  shielded  me  from 
the  beginning." 

"  I  don't  see  why  I  sit  here  and  let  you  talk  to  me 
like  that,"  she  said,  feeling  the  symptoms  of  col 
lapse.  "  You  have  not  been  fair  with  me,  Baldos. 
You  are  laughing  at  me  now  and  calling  me  a  witless 
little  fool.  You  —  you  did  something  to-day  that 
shakes  my  faith  to  the  very  bottom.  I  never  can 
trust  you  again.  Good  heaven,  I  hate  to  confess 
to  —  to  everyone  that  you  are  not  honest." 

"Your  highness!"  he  implored,   coining  close  to 


A    NOTE    TRANSLATED  195 

the  chair  and  bending  over  her.  "  Before  God,  I 
am  honest  with  you.  Believe  me  when  I  say  that  I 
have  done  nothing  to  injure  Graustark.  I  cannot  tell 
you  what  it  was  that  passed  between  Ravone  and  me, 
but  I  swear  on  my  soul  that  I  have  not  been  disloyal 
to  my  oath.  Won't  you  trust  me?  Won't  you  be 
lieve  ?  "  His  breath  was  fanning  her  ear,  his  voice 
was  eager;  she  could  feel  the  intensity  of  his  eyes. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  —  don't  know  what  to  say  to  you," 
she  murmured.  "  I  have  been  so  wrought  up  with 
fear  and  disappointment.  You'll  admit  that  it  was 
very  suspicious,  won't  you?  "  she  cried,  almost  plead 
ingly. 

'  Yes,  yes,"  he  answered.  His  hand  touched  her 
arm,  perhaps  unconsciously.  She  threw  back  her 
head  to  give  him  a  look  of  rebuke.  Their  eyes  met, 
and  after  a  moment  both  were  full  of  pleading.  Her 
lips  parted,  but  the  words  would  not  come.  She  was 
afterwards  more  than  thankful  for  this,  because  his 
eyes  impelled  her  to  give  voice  to  amazing  things  that 
suddenly  rushed  to  her  head. 

"  I  want  to  believe  you,"  she  whispered   softly. 

"  You  must  —  you  do !  I  would  give  you  my  life. 
You  have  it  now.  It  is  in  your  keeping,  and  with  it 
my  honor.  Trust  me,  I  beseech  you.  I  have  trusted 
you." 

"  I  brought  you  here "  she  began,  defending 

him  involuntarily.  "  But,  Baldos,  you  forget  that 
I  am  the  princess !  "  She  drew  away  in  sudden  shy 
ness,  her  cheeks  rosy  once  more,  her  eyes  filling  with 
the  most  distressingly  unreasonable  tears.  He  did  not 


196       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

move  for  what  seemed  hours  to  her.  She  heard  the 
sharp  catch  of  his  breath  and  felt  the  repression  that 
was  mastering  some  unwelcome  emotion  in  him. 

Lights  were  springing  into  existence  in  all  parts 
of  the  park.  Beverly  saw  the  solitary  window  in  the 
monastery  far  away,  and  her  eyes  fastened  on  it  as 
if  for  sustenance  in  this  crisis  of  her  life  —  this  mo 
ment  of  surprise  —  this  moment  when  she  felt  him 
laying  hands  upon  the  heart  she  had  not  suspected 
of  treason.  Twilight  was  upon  them;  the  sun  had 
set  and  night  was  rushing  up  to  lend  unfair  advan 
tage  to  the  forces  against  which  they  were  strug 
gling.  The  orchestra  in  the  castle  was  pla}7ing  some 
thing  soft  and  tender  —  oh,  so  far  away. 

"  I  forget  that  I  am  a  slave,  your  highness,"  he 
said  at  last,  and  his  voice  thrilled  her  through  and 
through.  She  turned  quickly  and  to  her  utter  dis 
may  found  his  face  and  eyes  still  close  to  hers,  glow 
ing  in  the  darkness. 

"  Those  men  —  over  there,"  she  whispered  helpless 
ly.  "  They  are  looking  at  you !  " 

"  Now,  I  thank  God  eternally,"  he  cried  softly. 
"  You  do  not  punish  me,  you  do  not  rebuke  me.  God, 
there  is  no  night !  " 

"  You  —  you  must  not  talk  like  that,"  she  cried, 
pulling  herself  together  suddenly.  "  I  cannot  permit 
it,  Baldos.  You  forget  who  you  are,  sir." 

"  Ah,  yes,  your  highness,"  he  said,  before  he  stood 
erect.  "  I  forget  that  I  was  a  suspected  traitor. 
Now  I  am  guilty  of  Icse  majeste."  Beverly  felt  her 
self  grow  hot  with  confusion. 


A    NOTE    TRANSLATED  197 

"  What  am  I  to  do  with  you?  "  she  cried  in  per 
plexity,  her  heart  beating  shamefully.  "  You  swear 
you  are  honest,  and  yet  you  won't  tell  me  the  truth. 
Now,  don't  stand  like  that!  You  are  as  straight 
as  a  ramrod,  and  I  know  your  dignity  is  terribly 
offended.  I  may  be  foolish,  but  I  do  believe  you  in 
tend  no  harm  to  Graustark.  You  cannot  be  a 
traitor." 

"  I  will  some  day  give  my  life  to  repay  you  for 
those  words,  your  highness,"  he  said.  Her  hand  was 
resting  on  the  side  of  the  chair.  Something  warm 
touched  it,  and  then  it  was  lifted  resistlessly.  Hot, 
passionate  lips  burned  themselves  into  the  white  fin 
gers,  and  a  glow  went  into  every  fiber  of  her  body. 

"  Oh !  "  was  all  she  could  say.  He  gently  released 
the  hand  and  threw  up  his  chin  resolutely. 

"  I  am  almost  ready  to  die,"  he  said.  She  laughed 
for  the  first  time  since  they  entered  the  park. 

"  I  don't  know  how  to  treat  you,"  she  said  in  a 
helpless  flutter.  "  You  know  a  princess  has  many 
trials  in  life." 

"  Not  the  least  of  which  is  womanhood." 

"  Baldos,"  she  said  after  a  long  pause.  Something 
very  disagreeable  had  just  rushed  into  her  brain. 
"  Have  you  been  forgetting  all  this  time  that  the 
Princess  Yetive  is  the  wife  of  Grenf all  Lorry  ?  " 

"  It  has  never  left  my  mind  for  an  instant.  From 
the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  congratulate  him.  His 
wife  is  an  angel  as  well  as  a  princess." 

"  Well,  in  the  code  of  morals,  is  it  quite  proper  to 
be  so  loyal  to  another  man's  wife  ?  "  she  asked,  and 


198       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

then  she  trembled.  He  was  supposed  to  know  her  as 
the  wife  of  Grenfall  Lorry,  and  yet  he  had  boldly 
shown  his  love  for  her. 

"  It  depends  altogether  on  the  other  man's  wife," 
he  said,  and  she  looked  up  quickly.  It  was  too  dark 
to  see  his  face,  but  something  told  her  to  press  the 
point  no  further.  Deep  down  in  her  heart  she  was 
beginning  to  rejoice  in  the  belief  that  he  had  found 
her  out.  If  he  still  believed  her  to  be  the  real  prin 
cess,  then  he  was  —  but  the  subject  of  conversation, 
at  least,  had  to  be  changed. 

"  You  say  your  message  to  Ravone  was  of  a  purely 
personal  nature,"  she  said. 

"  Yes,  your  highness."  She  did  not  like  the  way 
in  which  he  said  "  your  highness."  It  sounded  as  if 
he  meant  it. 

"  How  did  you  know  that  you  were  to  see  him 
to-day?" 

"  We  have  waited  for  this  opportunity  since  last 
week.  Franz  was  in  the  castle  grounds  last  Thurs- 
day." 

"  Good  heavens !    You  don't  mean  it !  " 

"  Yes,  your  highness.  He  carried  a  message  to 
me  from  Ravone.  That  is  why  Ravone  and  the  others 
waited  for  me  in  the  hills." 

"  You  amaze  me !  " 

"  I  have  seen  Franz  often,"  he  confessed  easily. 
"  He  is  an  excellent  messenger." 

"  So  it  would  seem.  We  must  keep  a  lookout  for 
him.  He  is  the  go-between  for  you  all,  I  see." 

"Did  you  learn  to  say  'you  all'  in  America?" 


A    NOTE    TRANSLATED 

he  asked.  Her  heart  gave  a  great  leap.  There  was 
something  so  subtle  in  the  query  that  she  was  vastly 
relieved. 

"  Never  mind  about  that,  sir.  You  won't  tell  me 
what  you  said  in  your  note  to  Ravone." 

"  I  cannot." 

"  Well,  he  gave  you  one  in  return.  If  you  are  per 
fectly  sincere,  Baldos,  you  will  hand  that  note  over 
to  me.  It  shall  go  no  farther,  I  swear  to  you,  if,  as 
you  vow,  it  does  not  jeopardize  Graustark.  Now, 
sir,  prove  your  loyalty  and  your  honesty." 

He  hesitated  for  a  long  time.  Then  from  an  inner 
pocket  he  drew  forth  a  bit  of  paper. 

"  I  don't  see  why  it  has  not  been  destroyed,"  he 
said  regretfully.  "  What  a  neglectful  fool  I  have 
been!" 

"  You  might  have  said  it  had  been  destroyed,"  she 
said,  happy  because  he  had  not  said  it. 

"  But  that  would  have  been  a  lie.  Read  it,  your 
highness,  and  return  it  to  me.  It  must  be  destroyed." 

"  It  is  too  dark  to  read  it  here."  Without  a  word 
he  handed  the  paper  to  her  and  called  the  chair  bear 
ers,  to  whom  he  gave  instructions  that  brought  her 
speedily  beneath  one  of  the  park  lamps.  She  after 
wards  recalled  the  guilty  impulse  which  forced  her 
to  sit  on  the  tell-tale  note  while  the  men  were  carry 
ing  her  along  in  the  driveway.  When  it  was  quite 
safe  she  slyly  opened  the  missive.  His  hand  closed 
over  hers,  and  the  note,  and  he  bent  close  once  more. 

"  My  only  fear  is  that  the  test  will  make  it  im- 


200       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

possible  for  me  to  kiss  your  hand  again,"  said  he  in 
a  strained  voice.      She  looked  up  in  surprise. 

"  Then  it  is  really  something  disloyal?  " 

"  I  have  called  it  a  test,  your  highness,"  he  re 
sponded  enigmatically. 

"  Well,  we'll  see,"  she  said,  and  forthwith  turned 
her  eyes  to  the  all-important  paper.  A  quick  flush 
crossed  her  brow;  her  eyes  blinked  hopelessly.  The 
note  was  written  in  the  Graustark  language ! 

"  I'll  read  it  later,  Baldos.  This  is  no  place  for 
me  to  be  reading  notes,  don't  you  know?  Really,  it 
isn't.  I'll  give  it  back  to  you  to-morrow,"  she  was  in 
haste  to  say. 

An  inscrutable  smile  came  over  his  face. 

"  Ravone's  information  is  correct,  I  am  now  con 
vinced,"  he  said  slowly.  "  Pray,  your  highness, 
glance  over  it  now,  that  I  may  destroy  it  at  once,"  he 
persisted. 

4t  The  light  isn't  good." 

""  It  seems  excellent." 

"  And  I  never  saw  such  a  miserable  scrawl  as  this. 
He  must  have  written  it  on  horseback  and  at  full 
gallop-" 

"  It  is  quite  legible,  your  highness." 

"  I  really  cannot  read  the  stuff.  You  know  his 
"handwriting.  Read  it  to  me.  I'll  trust  you  to  read 
it  carefully." 

"  This  is  embarrassing,  your  highness,  but  I  obey, 
of  course,  if  you  command.  Here  is  what  Ravone 
says: 

"  'We  have  fresh  proof  that  she  is  not  the  princess,  but  the 


A    NOTE    TRANSLATED  201 

American  girl.  Be  exceedingly  careful  that  she  does  not  lead 
you  into  any  admissions.  The  Americans  are  tricky.  Have 
little  to  say  to  her,  and  guard  your  tongue  well.  We  are  all  well 
and  are  hoping  for  the  best.' " 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


CONFESSIONS    AND    CONCESSIONS 

EVERLY  was  speechless. 

'*  Of  course,  your  highness,"  said 
Baldos,  deep  apology  in  his  voice, 
"  Ravone  is  woefully  misinformed. 
He  is  honest  in  his  belief,  and  you 
should  not  misjudge  his  motives.  How 
he  could  have  been  so  blind  as  to  confound  you  with 
that  frisky  American  girl  —  but  I  beg  your  pardon. 
She  is  to  be  your  guest.  A  thousand  pardons,  your 
highness." 

She  had  been  struck  dumb  by  the  wording  of  the 
note,  but  his  apparently  sincere  apology  for  his  friend 
set  her  every  emotion  into  play  once  more.  While 
he  was  speaking,  her  wits  were  forming  themselves 
for  conflict.  She  opened  the  campaign  with  a  bold 
attack.  "  You  —  you  believe  me  to  be  the  princess, 
sure  'nough,  don't  you?  "  But  with  all  her  bravery, 
she  was  not  able  to  look  him  in  the  face. 

"  How  can  you  doubt  it,  your  highness?  Would  I 
be  serving  you  in  the  present  capacity  if  I  believed 
you  to  be  anyone  else?  " 

"  Ravone's  warning  has  not  shaken  your  faith 
in  me  ?  " 

202 


CONFESSIONS  AND  CONCESSIONS  203 

"  It  has  strengthened  it.  Nothing  could  alter  the 
facts  in  the  case.  I  have  not,  since  we  left  Ganlook, 
been  in  doubt  as  to  the  identity  of  my  benefactress." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  you  are  beating  around  the 
bush.  I'll  come  straight  to  the  point.  How  long 
have  you  known  that  I  am  not  the  princess  of  Grau- 
stark?" 

"  What ! "  he  exclaimed,  drawing  back  in  well- 
assumed  horror.  "  Do  you  mean  —  are  you  jesting? 
I  beg  of  you,  do  not  jest.  It  is  very  serious  with 
me."  His  alarm  was  so  genuine  that  she  was  com 
pletely  deceived. 

"  I  am  not  jesting,"  she  half  whispered,  turning 
very  cold.  "  Have  you  thought  all  along  that  I  am 
the  princess  —  that  I  am  Grenf all  Lorry's  wife  ?  " 

"  You  told  me  that  you  were  the  princess." 

"  But  I've  never  said  that  I  was  —  was  anyone's 
wife." 

There  was  a  piteous  appeal  in  her  voice  and  he  was 
not  slow  to  notice  it  and  rejoice.  Then  his  heart 
smote  him. 

"  But  what  is  to  become  of  me  if  you  are  not  the 
princess?  "  he  asked  after  a  long  pause.  "  I  can  no 
longer  serve  you.  This  is  my  last  day  in  the  castle 
guard." 

"  You  are  to  go  on  serving  me  —  I  mean  you  are 
to  retain  your  place  in  the  service,"  she  hastened 
to  say.  "  I  shall  keep  my  promise  to  you."  How 
small  and  humble  she  was  beginning  to  feel.  It  did 
not  seem  so  entertaining,  after  all,  this  pretty  decep 
tion  of  hers.  Down  in  his  heart,  underneath  the  gal- 


204       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

lant  exterior,  what  was  his  opinion  of  her?  Some 
thing  was  stinging  her  eyes  fiercely,  and  she  closed 
them  to  keep  back  the  tears  of  mortification. 

"  Miss  Calhoun,"  he  said,  his  manner  changing 
swiftly,  "  I  have  felt  from  the  first  that  you  are  not 
the  princess  of  Graustark.  I  knew  it  an  hour  after  I 
entered  Edelweiss.  Franz  gave  me  a  note  at  Gan- 
look,  but  I  did  not  read  it  until  I  was  a  member  of  the 
guard." 

"  You  have  known  it  so  long?  "  she  cried  joyously. 
"  And  you  have  trusted  me  ?  You  have  not  hated  me 
for  deceiving  you  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  ceased  to  regard  you  as  my 
sovereign,"  he  said  softly. 

"  But  just  a  moment  ago  you  spoke  of  me  as  a 
frisky  American  girl,"  she  said  resentfully. 

"  I  have  used  that  term  but  once,  while  I  have  said 
*  your  highness '  a  thousand  times.  Knowing  that 
you  were  Miss  Calhoun,  I  could  not  have  meant 
either." 

"  I  fancy  I  have  no  right  to  criticise  you,"  she 
humbly  admitted.  "  After  all,  it  does  not  surprise 
me  that  you  were  not  deceived.  Only  an  imbecile 
could  have  been  fooled  all  these  weeks.  Everyone 
said  that  you  were  no  fool.  It  seems  ridiculous  that 
it  should  have  gone  to  this  length,  doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  Not  at  all,  your  highness.     I  am  not  - 

"  You  have  the  habit,  I  see,"  she  smiled. 

"  I  have  several  months  yet  to  serve  as  a  member 
of  the  guard.  Besides,  I  am  under  orders  to  regard 


CONFESSIONS  AND  CONCESSIONS  205 

you  as  the  princess.  General  Marlanx  has  given  me 
severe  instructions  in  that  respect." 

"  You  are  willing  to  play  the  game  to  the  end  ?  " 
she  demanded,  more  gratified  than  she  should  have 
been. 

"  Assuredly,  yes.  It  is  the  only  safeguard  I  have. 
To  alter  my  belief  publicly  would  expose  me  to  — 
to " 

"To  what,  Baldos?" 

"  To  ridicule,  for  one  thing,  and  to  the  generous 
mercies  of  Count  Marlanx.  Besides,  it  would  deprive 
me  of  the  privilege  I  mentioned  a  moment  ago  —  the 
right  to  kiss  your  hand,  to  be  your  slave  and  to  do 
homage  to  the  only  sovereign  I  can  recognize.  Surely, 
you  will  not  subject  me  to  exile  from  the  only  joys 
that  life  holds  for  me.  You  have  sought  to  deceive 
me,  and  I  have  tried  to  deceive  you.  Each  has  found 
the  other  out,  so  we  are  quits.  May  we  not  now 
combine  forces  in  the  very  laudible  effort  to  deceive 
the  world  ?  If  the  world  doesn't  know  that  we  know, 
why,  the  comedy  may  be  long  drawn  out  and  the 
climax  be  made  the  more  amusing." 

"  I'm  afraid  there  was  a  touch  of  your  old-time 
sarcasm  in  that  remark,"  she  said.  "  Yes,  I  am  will 
ing  to  continue  the  comedy.  It  seems  the  safest  way 
to  protect  you  —  especially  from  General  Marlanx. 
No  one  must  ever  know,  Baldos ;  it  would  be  absolutely 
pitiful.  I  am  glad,  oh,  so  glad,  that  you  have  known 
all  the  time.  It  relieves  my  mind  and  my  conscience 
tremendously." 

"  Yes,"  he  said  gently ;  "  I  have  known  all  along 


206       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

that  you  were  not  Mr.  Lorry's  wife."  He  had  di 
vined  her  thought  and  she  flushed  hotly.  "  You  are 
still  a  princess,  however.  A  poor  goat-hunter  can 
only  look  upon  the  rich  American  girl  as  a  sovereign 
whom  he  must  worship  from  far  below." 

"  Oh,  I'm  not  so  rich  as  all  that,"  she  cried.  "  Be 
sides,  I  think  it  is  time  for  a  general  clearing-up  of 
the  mysteries.  Are  you  Prince  Dantan,  Prince 
Frederic,  or  that  other  one  —  Christobal  somebody  ? 
Come,  be  fair  with  me." 

"  It  seems  that  all  Edelweiss  looks  upon  me  as  a 
prince  in  disguise.  You  found  me  in  the  hills " 

"  No ;  you  found  me.     I  have  not  forgotten,  sir." 

"  I  was  a  vagabond  and  a  fugitive.  My  friends 
are  hunted  as  I  am.  We  have  no  home.  Why  every 
one  should  suspect  me  of  being  a  prince  I  cannot 
understand.  Every  roamer  in  the  hills  is  not  a  prince. 
There  is  a  price  upon  my  head,  and  there  is  a  reward 
for  the  capture  of  every  man  who  was  with  me  in  the 
pass.  My  name  is  Paul  Baldos,  Miss  Calhoun.  There 
is  no  mystery  in  that.  If  you  were  to  mention  it  in 
a  certain  city,  you  would  quickly  find  that  the  name 
of  Baldos  is  not  unknown  to  the  people  who  are 
searching  for  him.  No,  your  highness,  I  regret  ex 
ceedingly  that  I  must  destroy  the  absurd  impression 
that  I  am  of  royal  blood.  Perhaps  I  am  spoiling 
a  pretty  romance,  but  it  cannot  be  helped.  I  was 
Baldos,  the  goat-hunter ;  I  am  now  Baldos,  the  guard. 
Do  you  think  that  I  would  be  serving  as  a  Graustark 
guard  if  I  were  any  one  of  the  men  you  mention?  " 

Beverly  listened  in  wonder  and  some   disappoint- 


CONFESSIONS  AND  CONCESSIONS  207 

rncnt,  it  must  be  confessed.  Somehow  a  spark  of 
hope  was  being  forever  extinguished  by  this  straight 
forward  denial.  He  was  not  to  be  the  prince  she  had 
seen  in  dreams.  "  You  are  not  like  anyone  else,"  she 
said.  "  That  is  why  we  thought  of  you  as  —  as  — 


"  As  one  of  those  unhappy  creatures  they  call 
princes?  Thank  fortune,  your  highness,  I  am  not 
yet  reduced  to  such  straits.  My  exile  will  come  only 
when  you  send  me  away." 

They  were  silent  for  a  long  time.  Neither  was 
thinking  of  the  hour,  or  the  fact  that  her  absence 
in  the  castle  could  not  be  unnoticed.  Night  had 
fallen  heavily  upon  the  earth.  The  two  faithful 
chair-bearers,  respectful  but  with  wonder  in  their 
souls,  stood  afar  off  and  waited.  Baldos  and  Beverly 
were  alone  in  their  own  little  world. 

"  I  think  I  liked  you  better  when  you  wore  the  red 
feather  and  that  horrid  patch  of  black,"  she  said 
musingly. 

"  And  was  a  heart-free  vagabond,"  he  added,  some 
thing  imploring  in  his  voice. 

"  An  independent  courtier,  if  you  please,  sir,"  she 
said  severely. 

"  Do  you  want  me  to  go  back  to  the  hills?  I  have 
the  patch  and  the  feather,  and  my  friends  are  — 

"  No !  Don't  suggest  such  a  thing  —  yet."  She 
began  the  protest  eagerly  and  ended  it  in  confusion. 

"  Alas,  you  mean  that  some  day  banishment  is  not 
unlikely?" 


208       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  You  don't  expect  to  be  a  guard  all  your  life,  do 
you?" 

"  Not  to  serve  the  princess  of  Graustark,  I  confess. 
My  aim  is  much  higher.  If  God  lets  me  choose  the 
crown  I  would  serve,  I  shall  enlist  for  life.  The  crown 
I  would  serve  is  wrought  of  love,  the  throne  I  would 
kneel  before  is  a  heart,  the  sceptre  I  would  follow 
is  in  the  slender  hand  of  a  woman.  I  could  live  and 
die  in  the  service  of  my  own  choosing.  But  I  am 
only  the  humble  goat-hunter  whose  hopes  are  phan 
toms,  whose  ideals  are  conceived  in  impotence." 

"  That  was  beautiful,"  murmured  Beverly,  looking 
up,  fascinated  for  the  moment. 

"  Oh,  that  I  had  the  courage  to  enlist,"  he  cried, 
bending  low  once  more.  She  felt  the  danger  in  his 
voice,  half  tremulous  with  something  more  than  loy 
alty,  and  drew  her  hand  away  from  a  place  of  instant 
jeopardy.  It  was  fire  that  she  was  playing  with,  she 
realized  with  a  start  of  consciousness.  Sweet  as  the 
spell  had  grown  to  be,  she  saw  that  it  must  be  shat 
tered. 

"  It  is  getting  frightfully  late,"  she  sharply  ex 
claimed.  "  They'll  wonder  where  I've  gone  to.  Why, 
it's  actually  dark." 

"  It  has  been  dark  for  half  an  hour,  your  highness," 
said  he,  drawing  himself  up  with  sudden  rigidness 
that  distressed  her.  "  Are  you  going  to  return  to  the 
castle?" 

"  Yes.  They'll  have  out  a  searching  party  pretty 
soon  if  I  don't  appear." 

"  You    have   been    good    to   me    to-day,"    he    said 


'That  was  beautiful,"  murmured  Beverly,  look 
ing  up,  fascinated  for  the  moment. 


CONFESSIONS  AND  CONCESSIONS  209 

thoughtfully.  "  I  shall  try  to  merit  the  kindness. 
Let  me " 

"  Oh,  please  don't  talk  in  that  humble  way !  It's 
ridiculous!  I'd  rather  have  you  absolutely  imperti 
nent,  I  declare  upon  my  honor  I  would.  Don't  you 
remember  how  you  talked  when  you  wore  the  red 
feather?  Well,  I  liked  it." 

Baldos  laughed  easily,  happily.  His  heart  was  not 
very  humble,  though  his  voice  and  manner  were. 

"  Red  is  the  color  of  insolence,  you  mean." 

"  It's  a  good  deal  jauntier  than  blue,"  she  declared. 

"  Before  you  call  the  bearers,  Miss  - — -  your  high 
ness,  I  wish  to  retract  something  I  said  awhile  ago," 
he  said  very  seriously. 

"  I  should  think  you  would,"  she  responded,  utterly 
misinterpreting  his  intent. 

"  You  asked  me  to  tell  you  what  my  message  to 
Ravone  contained  and  I  refused.  Subsequently  the 
extent  of  his  message  to  me  led  us  into  a  most  thor 
ough  understanding.  It  is  only  just  and  right  that 
you  should  know  what  I  said  to  him." 

"  I  trust  you,  Baldos,"  she  protested    simply. 

"  That  is  why  I  tell  this  to  you.  Yesterday,  your 
highness,  the  castle  guard  received  their  month's  pay. 
You  may  not  know  how  well  we  are  paid,  so  I  will 
say  that  it  is  ten  gavvos  to  each.  The  envelope  which 
I  gave  to  Ravone  contained  my  wages  for  the  past 
six  weeks.  They  need  it  far  more  than  I  do.  There 
was  also  a  short  note  of  good  cheer  to  those  poor 
comrades  of  mine,  and  the  assurance  that  one  day 
our  luck  may  change  and  starvation  be  succeeded  by 


210       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

plenty.  And,  still  more,  I  told  him  that  I  knew 
you  to  be  Miss  Calhoun  and  that  you  were  my  angel 
of  inspiration.  That  was  all,  your  highness." 

"  Thank  you,  Baldos,  for  telling  me,"  she  said 
softly.  "  You  have  made  me  ashamed  of  myself." 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  fear  that  I  have  been  indulg 
ing  in  mock  heroics.  Truth  and  egotism  —  like  a 
salad  —  require  a  certain  amount  of  dressing." 

"  Since  you  are  Baldos,  and  not  a  fairy  prince,  I 
think  you  may  instruct  the  men  to  carry  me  back, 
being  without  the  magic  tapestry  which  could  trans 
plant  me  in  a  whiff.  Goodness,  who's  that?  " 

Within  ten  feet  of  the  sedan  chair  and  directly 
behind  the  tall  guard  stood  a  small  group  of  people. 
He  and  Beverly,  engrossed  in  each  other,  had  not 
heard  their  approach.  How  long  they  had  been 
silent  spectators  of  the  little  scene  only  the  intruders 
knew.  The  startled,  abashed  eyes  of  the  girl  in  the 
chair  were  not  long  in  distinguishing  the  newcomers. 
A  pace  in  front  of  the  others  stood  the  gaunt,  shadowy 
form  of  Count  Marlanx. 

Behind  him  were  the  Princess  Yetive,  the  old  prime 
minister,  and  Baron  Dangloss. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES 

HY,  good  evening.  Is  that  you?" 
struggled  somewhat  hysterically 
through  Beverly's  lips.  Not  since  the 
dear  old  days  of  the  stolen  jam  and 
sugar-bits  had  she  known  the  feelings 
of  a  culprit  caught  red-handed.  The 
light  from  the  park  lamps  revealed  a  merry,  accusing 
smile  on  the  face  of  Yetive,  but  the  faces  of  the  men 
were  serious.  Marlanx  was  the  picture  of  suppressed 
fury. 

"  It  is  the  relief  expedition,  your  highness,"  said 
Yetive  warmly.  "  We  thought  you  were  lost  in  the 
wilds  of  the  jungle." 

"  She  is  much  better  protected  than  we  could  have 
imagined,"  said  the  Iron  Count,  malevolently  mild 
and  polite. 

"  Can't  I  venture  into  the  park  without  being  sent 
for?"  asked  Beverly,  ready  to  fly  into  the  proper 
rage.  The  pink  had  left  her  cheeks  white.  "  I  am 
proud  to  observe,  however,  that  the  relief  expedition 
is  composed  of  the  most  distinguished  people  in  all 
Graustark.  Is  there  any  significance  to  be  attached 
to  the  circumstance?  " 


BEVERLY    OF    GKAUSTARK 

"  Can't  we  also  go  strolling  in  the  park,  my  dear?  " 
plaintively  asked  Yetive. 

"  It  depends  upon  where  we  stroll,  I  fancy,"  sug 
gested  Marlanx  derisively.  Beverly  flashed  a  fierce 
look  at  the  head  of  the  army.  "  By  the  way,  Baron 
Dangloss,  where  is  the  incomparable  Haddan?" 

Baldos  shot  a  startled  glance  at  the  two  men  and 
in  an  instant  comprehension  came  to  him/  He  knew 
the  secret  of  Haddan's  constant  companionship.  An 
expression  of  bitter  scorn  settled  upon  his  mouth. 
Dangloss  mumbled  a  reply,  at  which  the  Iron  Count 
laughed  sarcastically. 

"  I  am  returning  to  the  castle,"  said  Beverly  coldly. 
"  Pray  don't  let  me  interfere  with  your  stroll.  Or  is 
it  possible  that  you  think  it  necessary  to  deliver  me 
safely  to  my  nurse,  now  that  you  have  found  me  ?  " 

"  Don't  be  angry,  dear,"  whispered  Yetive,  coming 
close  to  her  side.  "  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it  later 
on.  It  was  all  due  to  Count  Marlanx." 

"  It  was  all  done  to  humiliate  me,"  replied  Beverly, 
indignation  surpassing  confusion  at  last.  "  I  hate 
all  of  you." 

"  Oh,  Beverly ! "  whispered  the  princess,  in  distress. 

"  Well,  perhaps  you  were  led  into  it,"  retracted 
Beverly,  half  mollified.  "  Look  at  that  old  villain 
whispering  over  there.  No  wonder  his  wives  up  and 
died.  They  just  had  to  do  it.  I  hate  all  but  you 
and  Count  Halfont  and  Baron  Dangloss,"  which  left 
but  one  condemned. 

"  And  Baldos  ?  "  added  Yetive,  patting  her  hand. 

"  I  wish  you'd  be  sensible,"  cried  Beverly,  most  un- 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES 

graciously,  and  Yetive's  soft  laugh  irritated  her. 
"  How  long  had  you  been  listening  to  us?  " 

"  Not  so  much  as  the  tiniest  part  of  a  minute," 
said  Yetive,  recalling  another  disastrous  eavesdrop 
ping.  "  I  am  much  wiser  than  when  Baldos  first  came 
to  serve  you.  We  were  quite  a  distance  behind  Count 
Marlanx,  I  assure  you." 

"  Then  he  heard  something?  "  asked  Beverly  anx 
iously. 

"  He  has  been  in  a  detestable  mood  ever  since  we 
rejoined  him.  Could  he  have  heard  anything  dis 
agreeable  ?  " 

"  No ;  on  the  contrary,  it  was  quite  agreeable." 

All  this  time  Baldos  was  standing  at  attention  a  few 
paces  off,  a  model  soldier  despite  the  angry  shifting 
of  his  black  eyes.  He  saw  that  they  had  been  caught 
in  a  most  unfortunate  position.  No  amount  of  ex 
plaining  could  remove  the  impression  that  had  been 
forced  upon  the  witnesses,  voluntary  or  involuntary 
as  the  case  might  be.  Baldos  could  do  nothing  to 
help  her,  while  she  was  compelled  to  face  the  suspicions 
of  her  best  friends.  At  best  it  could  be  considered 
nothing  short  of  a  clandestine  meeting,  the  conse 
quences  of  which  she  must  suffer,  not  he.  In  his 
heated  brain  he  was  beginning  to  picture  scandal 
with  all  the  disgusting  details  that  grow  out  of  evil 
misrepresentation. 

Count  Halfont  separated  himself  from  the  group 
of  three  and  advanced  to  the  sedan-chair.  Marlanx 
and  Dangloss  were  arguing  earnestly  in  low  tones. 

"  Shall  we  return,  your  highness?  "  asked  Halfont, 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

addressing  both  with  one  of  his  rarest  smiles.  "  If 
I  remember  aright,  we  were  to  dine  en  famillc  to-night, 
and  it  is  well  upon  the  hour.  Besides,  Count  Marlanx 
is  a  little  distressed  by  your  absent-mindedness,  Miss 
Beverly,  and  I  fancy  he  is  eager  to  have  it  out  with 
you." 

"  My  absent-mindedness  ?  What  is  it  that  I  have 
forgotten?"  asked  Beverly,  puckering  her  brow. 

"That's  the  trouble,  dear,"  said  Yetivc.  "You 
forgot  your  promise  to  teach  him  how  to  play  that 
awful  game  called  poker.  He  has  waited  for  you  at 
the  castle  since  six  o'clock.  It  is  now  eight.  Is  it 
any  wonder  that  he  led  the  searching  party  ?  He  has 
been  on  nettles  for  an  hour  and  a  half." 

"  Goodness,  I'll  wager  he's  in  a  temper !  "  exclaimed 
Beverly,  with  no  remorse,  but  some  apprehension. 

"  It  would  be  wisdom  to  apologize  to  him,"  sug 
gested  Yetive,  and  her  uncle  nodded  earnestly. 

"  All  right.  I  think  I  can  get  him  into  good  humor 
without  half  trying.  Oh,  Count  Marlanx!  Come 
here,  please.  You  aren't  angry  with  me,  are  you? 
Wasn't  it  awful  for  me  to  run  away  and  leave  you  to 
play  solitaire  instead  of  poker?  But,  don't  you  know, 
I  was  so  wretchedly  tired  after  the  ride,  and  I  knew 

you  wouldn't  mind  if  I "  and  so  she  ran  glibly 

on,  completely  forestalling  him,  to  the  secret  amuse 
ment  of  the  others.  Nevertheless,  she  was  nervous 
and  embarrassed  over  the  situation.  There  was  every 
reason  to  fear  that  the  Iron  Count  had  heard  and 
seen  enough  to  form  a  pretty  good  opinion  of  what 
had  passed  between  herself  and  Baldos  in  this  remote 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES  215 

corner  of  the  park.  A  deep  sense  of  shame  was  taking 
possession  of  her. 

Marlanx,  smiling  significantly,  looked  into  her 
brave  little  face,  and  permitted  her  to  talk  on  until 
she  had  run  out  of  breath  and  composure.  Then  he 
bowed  with  exaggerated  gallantry  and  informed  her 
that  he  was  hers  to  command,  and  that  it  was  not  for 
him  to  forgive  but  to  accept  whatever  was  her  gra 
cious  pleasure.  He  called  upon  the  chair-bearers  and 
they  took  up  their  burden.  Beverly  promptly 
changed  her  mind  and  concluded  to  walk  to  the  castle. 
And  so  they  started  off,  the  chair  going  ahead  as  if 
out  of  commission  forever.  Despite  her  efforts  to  do 
so,  the  American  girl  (feeling  very  much  abused,  by 
the  way),  was  unsuccessful  in  the  attempt  to  keep  the 
princess  at  her  side.  Yetive  deliberately  walked  ahead 
with  Halfont  and  Dangloss.  It  seemed  to  Beverly 
that  they  walked  unnecessarily  fast  and  that  Marlanx 
was  provokingty  slow.  Baldos  was  twenty  paces  be 
hind,  as  was  his  custom. 

"  Is  it  necessary  for  me  to  ask  you  to  double  the 
number  of  lessons  I  am  to  have?"  Marlanx  asked. 
He  was  quite  too  close  to  her  side  to  please  Beverly. 

"  Can't  you  learn  in  one  lesson?  Most  Americans 
think  they  knowr  all  about  poker  after  the  first  game." 

"  I  am  not  so  quick-witted,  your  highness." 

"  Far  be  it  from  me  to  accelerate  your  wits,  Count 
Marlanx.  It  might  not  be  profitable." 

"  You  might  profit  by  losing,  you  know,"  he  ven 
tured,  leaning  still  closer.  "  Poker  is  not  the  only 


216       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

game  of  chance.  It  was  chance  that  gave  me  a  win 
ning  hand  this  evening." 

"  I  don't  understand." 

"  It  shall  be  my  pleasure  to  teach  you  in  return  for 
instructions  I  am  to  have.  I  have  tried  to  teach  your 
excellent  guard  one  phase  of  the  game.  He  has  not 
profited,  I  fear.  He  has  been  blind  enough  to  pick 
a  losing  hand  in  spite  of  my  advice.  It  is  the  game 
of  hearts."  Beverly  could  not  but  understand.  She- 
shrank  away  with  a  shudder.  Her  wits  did  not  de 
sert  her,  however. 

"  I  know  the  game,"  she  said  steadily.  "  One's 
object  is  to  cast  off  all  the  hearts.  I  have  been  very 
lucky  at  the  game,  Count  Marlanx." 

"Umph!"  was  his  ironical  comment.  "Ah,  isn't 
this  a  night  for  lovers?"  he  went  on,  changing  tack 
suddenly.  "  To  stroll  in  the  shadows,  where  even 
the  moon  is  blind,  is  a  joy  that  love  alone  provides. 
Come,  fair  mistress,  share  this  joy  with  me." 

With  that  his  hand  closed  over  her  soft  arm  above 
the  elbow  and  she  was  drawn  close  to  his  side.  Bever 
ly's  first  shock  of  revulsion  was  succeeded  by  the  dis 
tressing  certainty  that  Baldos  was  a  helpless  witness 
of  this  indignity.  She  tried  to  jerk  her  arm  away, 
but  he  held  it  tight. 

"  Release  my  arm,  sir ! "  she  cried,  hoarse  with 
passion. 

"  Call  your  champion,  my  lady.  It  will  mean  his 
death.  I  have  evidence  that  will  insure  his  conviction 
and  execution  within  an  hour.  Nothing  could  save 
him.  Call  him,  I  say,  and 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES  217 

"  I  will  call  him.  He  is  my  sworn  protector,  and 
I  will  command  him  to  knock  you  down  if  you  don't 
go  away,"  she  flared,  stopping  decisively. 

"  At  his  peril " 

"  Baldos !  "  she  called,  without  a  second's  hesita 
tion.  The  guard  came  up  with  a  rush  just  as  Mar- 
lanx  released  her  arm  and  fell  away  with  a  muttered 
imprecation. 

'*  Your  highness !  "  cried  Baldos,  who  had  witnessed 
everything. 

"Are  you  afraid  to  die?"  she  demanded  briefly 
and  clearly. 

"  No !  "" 

"  That  is  all,"  she  said,  suddenly  calm.  "  I  merely 
wanted  to  prove  it  to  Count  Marlanx."  Tact  had 
come  to  her  relief  most  opportunely.  Like  a  flash 
she  saw  that  a  conflict  between  the  commander  of  the 
army  and  a  guard  could  have  but  one  result  and  that 
disastrous  to  the  latter.  One  word  from  her  would 
have  ended  everything  for  Baldos.  She  saw  through 
the  Iron  Count's  ruse  as  if  by  divine  inspiration  and 
profited  where  he  least  expected  her  to  excel  in  shrewd 
ness.  Marlanx  had  deliberately  invited  the  assault  by 
the  guard.  His  object  had  been  to  snare  Baldos  into 
his  own  undoing,  and  a  horrible  undoing  it  would  have 
been.  One  blow  would  have  secured  the  desired  result. 
Nothing  could  have  saved  the  guard  who  had  struck 
his  superior  officer.  But  Beverly  thought  in  time. 

"  To  die  is  easy,  your  highness.  You  have  but  to 
ask  it  of  me,"  said  Baldos,  whose  face  was  white  and 
drawn. 


218       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  She  has  no  intention  of  demanding  such  a  pleas 
ant  sacrifice,"  observed  Count  Marlanx,  covering  his 
failure  skilfully.  "  Later  on,  perhaps,  she  may  sign 
your  death  warrant.  I  am  proud  to  hear,  sir,  that 
a  member  of  my  corps  has  the  courage  to  face  the 
inevitable,  even  though  he  be  an  alien  and  unwilling 
to  die  on  the  field  of  battle.  You  have  my  compli 
ments,  sir.  You  have  been  on  irksome  duty  for  sev 
eral  hours  and  must  be  fatigued  as  well  as  hungry. 
A  soldier  suffers  many  deprivations,  not  the  least  of 
which  is  starvation  in  pursuit  of  his  calling.  Mess  is 
not  an  unwelcome  relief  to  you  after  all  these  arduous 
hours.  You  may  return  to  the  barracks  at  once.  The 
princess  is  under  my  care  for  the  remainder  of  the 
campaign." 

Baldos  looked  first  at  her  and  then  at  the  sarcastic 
old  general.  Yetive  and  her  companions  were  waiting 
for  them  at  the  fountain,  a  hundred  yards  ahead. 

"  You  may  go,  Baldos,"  said  Beverly  in  low  tones. 

"  I  am  not  fatigued  nor "  he  began  eagerly. 

"  Go !  "  snarled  Marlanx.  "  Am  I  to  repeat  a  com 
mand  to  you  ?  Do  you  ignore  the  word  of  your  mis 
tress?  "  There  was  a  significant  sneer  in  the  way  he 
said  it. 

"Mistress?"  gasped  Baldos,  his  eye  blazing,  his 
arm  half  raised. 

"  Count  Marlanx ! "  implored  Beverly,  drawing 
herself  to  her  full  height  and  staring  at  him  like  a 
wounded  thing. 

"  I  humbly  implore  you  not  to  misconstrue  the 
meaning  of  the  term,  your  highness,"  said  the  Count 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES  219 

affably.     "  Ah,  you  have  dropped  something.     Per 
mit  he.     It  is  a  note  of  some  description,  I  think." 

He  stooped  quickly  —  too  quickly  —  and  recovered 
from  the  ground  at  her  feet  the  bit  of  paper  which 
had  fallen  from  her  hand.  It  was  the  note  from 
Ravone  to  Baldos  which  Beverly  had  forgotten  in  the 
excitement  of  the  encounter. 

"  Count  Marlanx,  give  me  that  paper !  "  demanded 
Beverly  breathlessly. 

"  Is  it  a  love-letter  ?  Perhaps  it  is  intended  for  me. 
At  any  rate,  your  highness,  it  is  safe  against  my  heart 
for  the  time  being.  When  we  reach  the  castle  I  shall 
be  happy  to  restore  it.  It  is  safer  with  me.  Come, 
we  go  one  way  and  —  have  you  not  gone,  sir  ?  "  in 
his  most  sarcastic  tone  to  the  guard.  Beverly  was 
trembling. 

"  No,  I  have  not ;  and  I  shall  not  go  until  I  see  you 
obey  the  command  of  her  highness.  She  has  asked 
3Tou  for  that  piece  of  paper,"  said  Baldos,  standing 
squarely  in  front  of  Marlanx. 

"  Insolent  dog !  Do  3-011  mean  to  question  my  — 

"  Give  over  that  paper !  " 

"  If  you  strike  me,  fellow,  it  will  be " 

"  If  I  strike  you  it  will  be  to  kill,  Count  Marlanx. 
The  paper,  sir."  Baldos  towered  over  the  Iron  Count 
and  there  was  danger  in  his  dare-devil  voice.  "  Surely, 
sir,  I  am  but  obeying  your  own  instructions.  '  Protect 
the  princess  and  all  that  is  hers,  with  your  life,'  you 
have  said  to  me." 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  hadn't  done  this,  Baldos,"  cried 
Beverly,  panic-stricken. 


220       BEVERLY    OF.  GRAUSTARK 

"  You  have  threatened  my  life.  I  shall  not  forget 
it,  fool.  Here  is  the  precious  note,  your  highness, 
with  my  condolences  to  the  writer."  Marlanx  passed 
the  note  to  her  and  then  looked  triumphantly  at  the 
guard.  "  I  daresay  you  have  done  all  you  can,  sir. 
Do  you  wish  to  add  anything  more  ?  " 

"  What  can  one  do  when  dealing  with  his  superior 
and  finds  him  a  despicable  coward?"  said  Baldos, 
with  cool  irony.  "  You  are  reputed  to  be  a  brave 
soldier.  I  know  that  to  be  false  or  I  would  ask  you 
to  draw  the  sword  you  carry  and  —  He  was 

draAving  his  sword  as  he  spoke. 

"  Baldos !  "  implored  Beverly.  Her  evident  con 
cern  infuriated  Marlanx.  In  his  heart  he  knew  Bal 
dos  to  be  a  man  of  superior  birth  and  a  foeman  not 
to  be  despised  from  his  own  station.  Carried  away 
by  passion,  he  flashed  his  sword  from  its  sheath. 

"  You  have  drawn  on  me,  sir,"  he  snarled.  "  I 
must  defend  myself  against  even  such  as  you.  You 
will  find  that  I  am  no  coward.  Time  is  short  for  your 
gallant  lover,  madam." 

Before  she  could  utter  a  word  of  protest  the  blades 
had  clashed  and  they  were  hungry  for  blood.  It  was 
dark  in  the  shadows  of  the  trees  and  the  trio  were  quite 
alone  with  their  tragedy.  She  heard  Baldos  laugh 
recklessly  in  response  to  Marlanx's  cry  of: 

"  Oh,  the  shame  of  fighting  with  such  carrion  as 
you ! " 

"  Don't  jest  at  a  time  like  this,  count,"  said  the 
guard,  softly.  "  Remember  that  I  lose,  no  matter 
which  way  it  goes.  If  you  kill  me  I  lose,  if  I  beat 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES 

you  I  lose.  Remember,  you  can  still  have  me  shot  for 
insubordination  and  conduct  unbecoming ' 

"  Stop !  "  almost  shrieked  Beverly.  At  risk  of  per 
sonal  injury  she  rushed  between  the  two  swordsmen. 
Both  drew  back  and  dropped  their  points.  Not  a 
dozen  passes  had  been  made. 

"  I  beg  your  highness's  pardon,"  murmured  Baldos, 
but  he  did  not  sheathe  his  sword. 

"  He  forced  it  upon  me,"  cried  Marlanx  trium 
phantly.  "  You  were  witness  to  it  all.  I  was  a  fool 
to  let  it  go  as  far  as  this.  Put  up  your  sword  until 
another  day  —  if  that  day  ever  comes  to  you." 

"  He  will  have  you  shot  for  this,  Baldos,"  cried 
Beverly  in  her  terror.  Baldos  laughed  bitterly. 

"  Tied  and  blindfolded,  too,  your  highness,  to  prove 
that  he  is  a  brave  man  and  not  a  coward.  It  was 
short  but  it  was  sweet.  Would  that  you  had  let  the 
play  go  on.  There  was  a  spice  in  it  that  made  life 
worth  living  and  death  worth  the  dying.  Have  you 
other  commands  for  me,  your  highness  ?  "  His  man 
ner  was  so  cool  and  defiant  that  she  felt  the  tears 
spring  to  her  eyes. 

"  Only  that  you  put  up  your  sword  and  end  this 
miserable  affair  by  going  to  your  —  your  room." 

"  It  is  punishment  enough.  To-morrow's  execution 
can  be  no  harder." 

Marlanx  had  been  thinking  all  this  time.  Into 
his  soul  came  the  thrill  of  triumph,  the  consciousness 
of  a  mighty  power.  He  saw  the  chance  to  benefit 
by  the  sudden  clash  and  he  was  not  slow  to  seize  it. 

"  Never  fear,  my  man,"  he  said  easily,  "  it  won't 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

be  as  bad  as  that.  I  can  well  afford  to  overlook  your 
indiscretion  of  to-night.  There  will  be  no  execution, 
as  you  call  it.  This  was  an  affair  between  men,  not 
between  man  and  the  state.  Our  gracious  referee  is 
to  be  our  judge.  It  is  for  her  to  pardon  and  to  con 
demn.  It  was  very  pretty  while  it  lasted  and  you 
are  too  good  a  swordsman  to  be  shot.  Go  your  way, 
Baldos,  and  remember  me  as  Marlanx  the  man,  not 
Marlanx  the  general.  As  your  superior  officer,  I  con 
gratulate  and  commend  you  upon  the  manner  in  which 
you  serve  the  princess." 

"  You  will  always  find  me  ready  to  fight  and  to 
die  for  her,"  said  Baldos  gravely.  "  Do  you  think 
you  can  remember  that,  Count  Marlanx  ?  " 

"  I  have  an  excellent  memory,"  said  the  count 
steadily.  With  a  graceful  salute  to  Beverly,  Baldos 
turned  and  walked  away  in  the  darkness. 

"  A  perfect  gentleman,  Miss  Calhoun,  but  a 
wretched  soldier,"  said  Marlanx  grimly. 

"  He  is  a  hero,"  she  said  quietly,  a  great  calmness 
coming  over  her.  "  Do  you  mean  it  when  you  say 
you  are  not  going  to  have  him  punished?  He  did 
only  what  a  man  should  do,  and  I  glory  in  his  folly." 

"  I  may  as  well  tell  you  point  blank  that  you  alone 
can  save  him.  He  does  not  deserve  leniency.  It  is 
in  my  power  and  it  is  my  province  to  have  him 
utterly  destroyed,  not  only  for  this  night's  work,  but 
for  other  and  better  reasons.  I  have  positive  proof 
that  he  is  a  spy.  He  knows  I  have  this  proof.  That 
is  why  he  would  have  killed  me  just  now.  It  is  for 
you  to  say  whether  he  shall  meet  the  fate  of  a  spy 


THE    NIGHT    FIRES 

or  go  unscathed.  You  have  but  to  exchange  prom 
ises  with  me  and  the  estimable  guardsman  goes  free  — 
but  lie  goes  from  Edelweiss  forever.  To-day  he  met 
the  enemy's  scouts  in  the  hills,  as  you  know  quite  well. 
Messages  were  exchanged,  secretly,  which  you  do 
not  know  of,  of  course.  Before  another  day  is  gone 
I  expect  to  see  the  results  of  his  treachery.  There  may 
be  manifestations  to-night.  You  do  not  believe  me, 
but  wait  and  see  if  I  am  not  right.  He  is  one  of 
Gabriel's  cleverest  spies." 

"  I  do  not  believe  it.  You  shall  not  accuse  him  of 
such  things,"  she  cried.  "  Besides,  if  he  is  a  spy 
why  should  you  shield  him  for  my  sake?  Don't  you 
owe  it  to  Graustark  to  expose " 

"  Here  is  the  princess,"  said  he  serenely.  "  Your 
highness,"  addressing  Yetiye,  "  Miss  Calhoun  has  a 
note  which  she  refuses  to  let  anyone  read  but  you. 
Now,  my  dear  young  lady,  you  may  give  it  directly 
into  the  hands  of  her  highness." 

Beverly  gave  him  a  look  of  scorn,  but  without  a  sec 
ond's  hesitation  placed  the  missive  in  Yetive's  hand. 
The  Iron  Count's  jaw  dropped,  and  he  moistened  his 
lips  with  his  tongue  two  or  three  times.  Something 
told  him  that  a  valuable  chance  had  gone. 

"  I  shall  be  only  too  happy  to  have  your  highness 
read  the  result  of  my  first  lesson  in  the  Graustark 
language,"  she  said,  smiling  gaily  upon  the  count. 

Two  men  in  uniform  came  rushing  up  to  the  party, 
manifestly  excited.  Saluting  the  general,  both  began 
to  speak  at  once. 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  One  at  a  time,"  commanded  the  count.  ;'  What 
is  it?  " 

Other  officers  of  the  guard  and  a  few  noblemen  from 
the  castle  came  up,  out  of  breath. 

"  We  have  discerned  signal  fires  in  the  hilts,  your 
excellency,"  said  one  of  the  men  from  the  fort. 
"  There  is  a  circle  of  fires  and  they  mean  something 
important.  For  half  an  hour  they  have  been  burn 
ing  near  the  monastery;  also  in  the  valley  below  and 
on  the  mountains  to  the  south." 

There  was  an  instant  of  deathly  silence,  as  if  the 
hearers  awaited  a  crash.  Marlanx  looked  steadily  at 
Beverly's  face  and  she  saw  the  triumphant,  accusing 
gleam  in  his  eyes.  Helplessly  she  stared  into  the 
crowd  of  faces.  Her  eyes  fell  upon  Baldos,  who 
suddenly  appeared  in  the  background.  His  face 
wore  a  hunted,  imploring  look.  The  next  instant  he 
disappeared  among  the  shadows. 


CHAPTER  XX 


GOSSIP    OF    SOME    CONSEQUENCE 

HERE  is  no  time  to  be  lost,"  ex 
claimed  Count  Marlanx.  "  Ask  Colo 
nel  Braze  to  report  to  me  at  the  eastern 
gate  with  a  detail  of  picked  troopers 
—  a  hundred  of  them.  I  will  meet 
him  there  in  half  an  hour."  He  gave 
other  sharp,  imperative  commands,  and  in  the  twink 
ling  of  an  eye  the  peaceful  atmosphere  was  trans 
formed  into  the  turbulent,  exciting  rush  of  activity. 
The  significance  of  the  fires  seen  in  the  hills  could  not 
be  cheaply  held.  Instant  action  was  demanded.  The 
city  was  filled  with  the  commotion  of  alarm ;  the  army 
was  brought  to  its  feet  with  a  jerk  that  startled  even 
the  most  ambitious. 

The  first  thing  that  General  Marlanx  did  was  to 
instruct  Quinnox  to  set  a  vigilant  watch  over  Baldos. 
He  was  not  to  be  arrested,  but  it  was  understood  that 
the  surveillance  should  be  but  little  short  of  incarcera 
tion.  He  was  found  at  the  barracks  shortly  after  the 
report  concerning  the  signal  fires,  and  told  in  plain 
words  that  General  Marlanx  had  ordered  a  guard 
placed  over  him  for  the  time  being,  pending  the  result 
of  an  investigation.  Baldos  had  confidently  expected 

225 


226       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

to  be  thrown  into  a  dungeon  for  his  affront.  He  did 
not  know  that  Grenfall  Lorry  stood  firm  in  his  con 
viction  that  Baldos  was  no  spy,  and  was  supported 
by  others  in  high  authority. 

Marlanx  was  bottling  his  wrath  and  holding  back 
his  revenge  for  a  distinct  purpose.  Apart  from  the 
existence  of  a  strong,  healthy  prej  udice  in  the  guard's 
favor,  what  the  old  general  believed  and  what  he  could 
prove  were  two  distinct  propositions.  He  was  crafty 
enough,  however,  to  take  advantage  of  a  condition 
unknown  to  Beverly  Calhoun,  the  innocent  cause  of  all 
his  bitterness  toward  Baldos. 

As  he  hastened  from  the  council  chamber,  his  eyes 
swept  the  crowd  of  eager,  excited  women  in  the  grand 
hall.  From  among  them  he  picked  Beverly  and  ad 
vanced  upon  her  without  regard  for  time  and  conse 
quence.  Despite  her  animation  he  was  keen  enough 
to  see  that  she  was  sorely  troubled.  She  did  not 
shrink  from  him  as  he  had  half  expected,  but  met 
him  with  bold  disdain  in  her  eyes. 

"  This  is  the  work  of  your  champion,"  he  said  in 
tones  that  did  not  reach  cars  other  than  her  own.  "  I 
prophesied  it,  you  must  remember.  Are  you  satisfied 
now  that  you  have  been  deceived  in  him  ?  " 

"  I  have  implicit  confidence  in  him.  I  suppose  you 
have  ordered  his  arrest?"  she  asked  with  quiet  scorn. 

"  He  is  under  surveillance,  at  my  suggestion.  For 
your  sake,  and  yours  alone,  I  am  giving  him  a  chance. 
He  is  your  protege;  you  are  responsible  for  his  con 
duct.  To  accuse  him  would  be  to  place  you  in  an 
embarrassing  position.  There  is  a  sickening  rumor 


GOSSIP  OF  SOME  CONSEQUENCE    227 

in  court  circles  that  you  have  more  than  a  merely  kind 
and  friendly  interest  in  the  rascal.  If  I  believed 
that,  Miss  Calhoun,  I  fear  my  heart  could  not  be  kind 
to  him.  But  I  know  it  is  not  true.  You  have  a  loft 
ier  love  to  give.  He  is  a  clever  scoundrel,  and  there 
is  no  telling  how  much  harm  he  has  already  done  to 
Graustark.  His  every  move  is  to  be  watched  and  re 
ported  to  me.  It  will  be  impossible  for  him  to  escape. 
To  save  him  from  the  vengeance  of  the  army,  I  am 
permitting  him  to  remain  in  your  service,  ostensibly, 
at  least.  His  hours  of  duty  have  been  changed,  how 
ever.  Henceforth  he  is  in  the  night  guard,  from 
midnight  till  dawn.  I  am  telling  you  this,  Miss 
Calhoun,  because  I  want  you  to  know  that  in  spite  of 
all  the  indignity  I  have  suffered,  you  are  more  to  me 
than  any  other  being  in  the  world,  more  to  me  even 
than  my  loyalty  to  Graustark.  Do  me  the  honor  and 
justice  to  remember  this.  I  have  suffered  much  for 
you.  I  am  a  rough,  hardened  soldier,  and  you  have 
misconstrued  my  devotion.  Forgive  the  harsh  words 
my  passion  may  have  inspired.  Farewell!  I  must 
off  to  undo  the  damage  we  all  lay  at  the  door  of  the 
man  you  and  I  are  protecting." 

He  was  too  wise  to  give  her  the  chance  to  reply. 
A  moment  later  he  was  mounted  and  off  for  the  eastern 
gates,  there  to  direct  the  movements  of  Colonel  Braze 
and  his  scouts.  Beverly  flew  at  once  to  Yetive  with 
her  plea  for  Baldos.  She  was  confronted  by  a  rather 
sober-faced  sovereign.  The  news  of  the  hour  was  not 
comforting  to  the  princess  and  her  ministers. 

"You  don't  believe  he  is  a  spy?"  cried  Beverly, 


228       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

stopping  just  inside  the  door,  presuming  selfishly  that 
Baldos  alone  was  the  cause  for  worry.  She  resolved 
to  tell  Yetive  of  the  conflict  in  the  park. 

"  Dear  me,  Beverly,  I  am  not  thinking  of  him. 
We've  discussed  him  jointly  and  severally  and  every 
other  way  and  he  has  been  settled  for  the  time  being. 
You  are  the  only  one  who  is  thinking  of  him,  my  dear 
child.  We  have  weightier  things  to  annoy  us." 

"  Goodness,  how  you  talk !  He  isn't  annoying. 
Oh,  forgive  me,  Yetive,  for  I  am  the  silliest,  addle- 
patedest  goose  in  the  kingdom.  And  you  are  so 
troubled.  But  do  you  know  that  he  is  being  watched? 
They  suspect  him.  So  did  I,  at  first,  I'll  admit  it. 
But  I  don't  —  now.  Have  you  read  the  note  I  gave 
to  you  out  there  ?  " 

"Yes,  dear.  It's  just  as  I  expected.  He  has 
known  from  the  beginning.  He  knew  when  he  caught 
Dagmar  and  me  spying  behind  that  abominable  cur 
tain.  But  don't  worry  me  any  longer  about  him, 
please.  Wait  here  with  me  until  we  have  reports  from, 
the  troops.  I  shall  not  sleep  until  I  know  what  those 
fires  meant.  Forget  Baldos  for  an  hour  or  two,  for 
my  sake." 

"  You  dear  old  princess,  I'm  an  awful  brute,  sure 
'nough.  I'll  forget  him  forever  for  your  sake.  It 
won't  be  hard,  either.  He's  just  a  mere  guard. 
Pooh!  He's  no  prince." 

Whereupon,  reinforced  by  Mrs.  Anguish  and  the 
Countess  Halfont,  she  proceeded  to  devote  herself 
to  the  task  of  soothing  and  amusing  the  distressed 
princess  while  the  soldiers  of  Graustark  ransacked  the 


GOSSIP  OF  SOME  CONSEQUENCE   229 

moonlit  hills.  The  night  passed,  and  the  next  day 
was  far  on  its  way  to  sunset  before  the  scouts  came 
in  with  tidings.  No  trace  of  the  mysterious  signalers 
had  been  found.  The  embers  of  the  half-dozen  fires 
were  discovered,  but  their  builders  were  gone.  The 
search  took  in  miles  of  territory,  but  it  was  unavailing. 
Not  even  a  straggler  was  found.  The  so-called  troupe 
of  actors,  around  whom  suspicion  centered,  had  been 
swallowed  by  the  capacious  solitude  of  the  hills. 
Riders  from  the  frontier  posts  to  the  south  came  in 
with  the  report  that  all  was  quiet  in  the  threatened 
district.  Dawsbergen  was  lying  quiescent,  but  with 
the  readiness  of  a  skulking  dog. 

There  was  absolutely  no  solution  to  the  mystery  con 
nected  with  the  fires  on  the  mountain  sides.  Baldos 
was  questioned  privately  and  earnestly  by  Lorry  and 
Dangloss.  His  reply  was  simple,  but  it  furnished 
food  for  reflection  and,  at  the  same  time,  no  little 
relief  to  the  troubled  leaders. 

"  It  is  my  belief,  Mr.  Lorry,  that  the  fires  were 
built  by  brigands  and  not  by  your  military  foes.  I 
have  seen  these  fires  in  the  north,  near  Axphain,  and 
they  were  invariably  meant  to  establish  communica 
tion  between  separated  squads  of  robbers,  all  belong 
ing  to  one  band.  My  friends  and  I  on  more  than  one 
occasion  narrowly  escaped  disaster  by  prying  into  the 
affairs  of  these  signalers.  I  take  it  that  the  squads 
have  been  operating  in  the  south  and  were  brought 
together  last  night  by  means  of  the  fires.  Doubtless 
they  have  some  big  project  of  their  own  sort  on  foot." 

That  night  the  city  looked  for  a  repetition  of  the 


230        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

fires,  but  the  mountains  were  black  from  dusk  till 
dawn.  Word  reached  the  castle  late  in  the  evening, 
from  Ganlook,  that  an  Axphainian  nobleman  and  his 
followers  would  reach  Edelweiss  the  next  day.  The 
visit  was  a  friendly  but  an  important  one.  The  noble 
man  was  no  other  than  the  young  Duke  of  Mizrox, 
intimate  friend  of  the  unfortunate  Prince  Lorenz  who 
met  his  death  at  the  hand  of  Prince  Gabriel,  and 
was  the  leader  of  the  party  which  opposed  the  venge 
ful  plans  of  Princess  Volga.  His  arrival  in  Edelweiss 
was  awaited  with  deep  anxiety,  for  it  was  suspected 
that  his  news  would  be  of  the  most  important  charac 
ter. 

Beverly  Calhoun  sat  on  the  balcony  with  the  prin 
cess  long  after  midnight.  The  sky  was  black  with 
the  clouds  of  an  approaching  storm ;  the  air  was  heavy 
with  foreboding  silence.  Twice,  from  their  darkened 
corner  near  the  pillar,  they  saw  Baldos  as  he  paced 
steadily  past  the  castle  on  patrol,  with  Haddan  at  his 
side.  Dreamily  the  watchers  in  the  cool  balcony 
looked  down  upon  the  somber  park  and  its  occasional 
guardsman.  Neither  was  in  the  mood  to  talk.  As 
they  rose  at  last  to  go  to  their  rooms,  something 
whizzed  through  the  air  and  dropped  with  a  slight 
thud  in  the  center  of  the  balcony.  The  two  young 
women  started  back  in  alarm.  A  faint  light  from 
Beverly's  window  filtered  across  the  stone  floor. 

"  Don't  touch  it,  Beverly,"  cried  the  princess,  as 
the  girl  started  forward  with  an  eager  exclamation. 
But  Beverly  had  been  thinking  of  the  very  object  that 
now  quivered  before  her  in  the  dull  light,  saucy,  ag- 


GOSSIP  OF  SOME  CONSEQUENCE    231 

grcssivc  and  jaunty  as  it  was  the  night  when  she  saw 
it  for  the  first  time. 

A  long,  slim  red  feather  bobbed  to  and  fro  as  if 
saluting  her  with  soldierly  fidelity.  Its  base  was  an 
orange,  into  which  it  had  been  stuck  by  the  hand  that 
tossed  it  from  below.  Beverly  grasped  it  with  more 
ecstasy  than  wisdom  and  then  rushed  to  the  stone 
railing,  Yetive  looking  on  in  amazement.  Diligently 
she  searched  the  ground  below  for  the  man  who  had 
sent  the  red  message,  but  he  was  nowhere  in  sight. 
Then  came  the  sudden  realization  that  she  was  reveal 
ing  a  most  unmaidenly  eagerness,  to  him  as  well  as  to 
the  princess,  for  she  did  not  doubt  that  he  was  watch 
ing  from  the  shadows  below.  She  withdrew  from  the 
rail  in  confusion  and  fled  to  her  bed-chamber,  fol 
lowed  by  her  curious  companion.  There  were  ex 
planations  —  none  of  which  struck  speaker  or  listener 
as  logical  —  and  there  were  giggles  which  completely 
simplified  the  situation.  Beverly  thrust  the  slim  red 
feather  into  her  hair,  and  struck  an  attitude  that 
would  have  set  Baldos  wild  with  joy  if  he  could  have 
seen  it.  The  next  day,  when  she  appeared  in  the 
park,  the  feather  stood  up  defiantly  from  the  band 
of  her  sailor  hat,  though  womanly  perverseness  im 
pelled  her  to  ignore  Baldos  when  he  passed  her  on  his 
way  to  mess. 

The  Duke  of  Mizrox  came  into  the  city  hours  after 
the  time  set  for  his  arrival.  It  was  quite  dark  when 
the  escort  sent  by  Colonel  Quinnox  drew  up  at  the 
castle  gates  with  the  visitor.  The  duke  and  his  party 
had  been  robbed  by  brigands  in  the  broad  daylight 


232       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

and  at  a  point  not  more  than  five  miles  from  Edel 
weiss!  And  thus  the  mystery  of  the  signal  fires  was 
explained.  Count  Marlanx  did  not  soon  forget  the 
triumphant  look  he  received  from  Beverly  Calhoun 
when  the  duke's  misfortunes  were  announced.  Shame 
less  as  it  may  seem,  she  rejoiced  exceedingly  over  the 
acts  of  the  robbers. 

Mizrox  announced  to  the  princess  and  her  friends 
that  he  was  not  an  emissary  from  the  Axphainian 
government.  Instead,  he  was  but  little  less  than  a 
fugitive  from  the  wrath  of  Volga  and  the  crown  ad 
herents.  Earlier  in  the  week  he  had  been  summoned 
before  Volga  and  informed  that  his  absence  for  a  few 
months,  at  least,  from  the  principality  was  desirable. 
The  privilege  was  allowed  him  of  selecting  the  country 
which  he  desired  to  visit  during  that  period,  and  he 
coolly  chose  Graustark.  He  was  known  to  have 
friendly  feelings  for  that  state;  but  no  objections 
were  raised.  This  friendship  also  gave  him  a  welcome 
in  Edelweiss.  Mizrox  plainly  stated  his  position  to 
Yetive  and  the  prime  minister.  He  asked  for  pro 
tection,  but  declined  to  reveal  any  of  the  plans  then 
maturing  in  his  home  country.  This  reluctance  to 
become  a  traitor,  even  though  he  was  not  in  sympathy 
with  his  sovereign,  was  respected  by  the  princess.  He 
announced  his  willingness  to  take  up  arms  against 
Dawsbergen,  but  would  in  no  way  antagonize  Axphain 
from  an  enemy's  camp. 

The  duke  admitted  that  the  feeling  in  Axphain's 
upper  circles  was  extremely  bitter  toward  Graustark. 


GOSSIP  OF  SOME  CONSEQUENCE    233 

The  old-time  war  spirit  had  not  died  down.  Axphain 
despised  her  progressive  neighbor. 

"  I  may  as  well  inform  your  highness  that  the  re 
gent  holds  another  and  a  deeper  grudge  against 
Graustark,"  he  said,  in  the  audience  chamber  where 
were  assembled  many  of  the  nobles  of  the  state,  late 
on  the  night  of  his  arrival.  "  She  insists  that  you  are 
harboring  and  even  shielding  the  pretender  to  our 
throne,  Prince  Frederic.  It  is  known  that  he  is  in 
Graustark  and,  moreover,  it  is  asserted  that  he  is  in 
direct  touch  with  your  government." 

Yetive  and  her  companions  looked  at  one  another 
with  glances  of  comprehension.  He  spoke  in  English 
now  for  the  benefit  of  Beverly  Calhoun,  an  interested 
spectator,  who  felt  her  heart  leap  suddenly  and  swiftly 
into  violent  insurrection. 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  ridiculous,"  said  Yetive 
after  a  pause.  "  We  do  not  know  Frederic,  and  we 
are  not  harboring  him." 

"  I  am  only  saying  what  is  believed  to  be  true  by 
Axphain,  your  highness.  It  is  reported  that  he  joined 
you  in  the  mountains  in  June  and  since  has  held  a 
position  of  trust  in  your  army." 

"  Would  you  know  Prince  Frederic  if  you  were  to 
see  him?  "  quietly  asked  Lorry. 

"  I  have  not  seen  him  since  he  was  a  very  small  boy, 
and  then  but  for  a  moment  —  on  the  day  when  he  and 
his  mother  were  driven  through  the  streets  on  their 
way  to  exile." 

"  We  have  a  new  man  in  the  Castle  Guard  and  there 
is  a  mystery  attached  to  him.  Would  you  mind  look- 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

ing  at  him  and  telling  us  if  he  is  what  Frederic  might 
be  in  his  manhood  ? "  Lorry  put  the  question  and 
everyone  present  drew  a  deep  breath  of  interest. 

Mizrox  readily  consented  and  Baldos,  intercepted 
on  his  rounds,  was  led  unsuspecting  into  an  outer 
chamber.  The  duke,  accompanied  by  Lorry  and 
Baron  Dangloss,  entered  the  room.  They  were  gone 
from  the  assemblage  but  a  few  minutes,  returning 
with  smiles  of  uncertainty  on  their  faces. 

"  It  is  impossible,  your  highness,  for  me  to  say 
whether  or  not  it  is  Frederic,"  said  the  duke  frankly. 
"  He  is  what  I  imagine  the  pretender  might  be  at  his 
age,  but  it  would  be  sheer  folly  for  me  to  speculate. 
I  do  not  know  the  man." 

Beverly  squeezed  the  Countess  Dagmar's  arm  con 
vulsively. 

"  Hurrah !  "  she  whispered,  in  great  relief.  Dag- 
mar  looked  at  her  in  astonishment.  She  could  not 
fathom  the  whimsical  American. 

"  They  have  been  keeping  an  incessant  watch  over 
the  home  of  Frederic's  cousin.  He  is  to  marry  her 
when  the  time  is  propitious,"  volunteered  the  young 
duke.  "  She  is  the  most  beautiful  girl  in  Axphain, 
and  the  family  is  one  of  the  wealthiest.  Her  parents 
bitterly  oppose  the  match.  They  were  to  have  been 
secretly  married  some  months  ago,  and  there  is  a 
rumor  to  the  effect  that  they  did  succeed  in  evading 
the  vigilance  of  her  people." 

"  You  mean  that  they  may  be  married  ?  "  asked 
Yetive,  casting  a  quick  glance  at  Beverly. 

"  It    is    not    improbable,    your    highness.     He    is 


GOSSIP  OF  SOME  CONSEQUENCE   235 

known  to  be  a  daring  young  fellow,  and  he  has  never 
failed  in  a  siege  against  the  heart  of  woman.  Report 
has  it  that  he  is  the  most  invincible  Lothario  that  ever 
donned  love's  armor."  Beverly  was  conscious  of  fur 
tive  glances  in  her  direction,  and  a  faint  pink  stole 
into  her  temples.  "  Our  fugitive  princes  are  lucky 
in  neither  love  nor  war,"  went  on  the  duke.  "  Poor 
Dantan,  who  is  hiding  from  Gabriel,  is  betrothed  to 
the  daughter  of  the  present  prime  minister  of  Daws- 
bergcn,  the  beautiful  lolanda.  I  have  seen  her.  She 
is  glorious,  your  highness." 

"  I,  too,  have  seen  her,"  said  Yetive,  more  gravely 
than  she  thought.  "  The  report  of  their  betrothal 
is  true,  then  ?  " 

"  His  sudden  overthrow  prevented  the  nuptials 
which  were  to  have  taken  place  in  a  month  had  not 
Gabriel  returned.  Her  father,  the  Duke  of  Matz, 
wisely  accepted  the  inevitable  and  became  prime  min 
ister  to  Gabriel.  lolanda,  it  is  said,  remains  true 
to  him  and  sends  messages  to  him  as  he  wanders 
through  the  mountains." 

Beverly's  mind  instantly  reverted  to  the  confessions 
of  Baldos.  He  had  admitted  the  sending  and  receiv 
ing  of  messages  through  Franz.  Try  as  she  would, 
she  could  not  drive  the  thought  from  her  mind  that 
he  was  Dantan  and  now  came  the  distressing  fear  that 
his  secret  messages  were  words  of  love  from  lolanda. 
The  audience  lasted  until  late  in  the  night,  but  she 
was  so  occupied  with  her  own  thoughts  that  she  knew 
of  but  little  that  transpired. 

Of  one  thing  she  wa.c  sure.  She  could  not  go  to 
sleep  that  night. 


CHAPTER  XXI 


THE    ROSE 

HE  next  morning  Aunt  Fanny  had 
a  hard  time  of  it.  Her  mistress 
was  petulant;  there  was  no  sunshine 
in  the  bright  August  day  as  it  ap 
peared  to  her.  Toward  dawn,  after 
she  had  counted  many  millions  of 
black  sheep  jumping  backward  over  a  fence,  she 
had  fallen  asleep.  Aunt  Fanny  obeyed  her  usual 
instructions  on  this  luckless  morning.  It  was  Bev 
erly's  rule  to  be  called  every  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 
But  how  was  her  attendant  to  know  that  the  graceful 
young  creature  who  had  kicked  the  counterpane  to 
the  foot  of  the  bed  and  had  mauled  the  pillow  out  of 
all  shape,  had  slept  for  less  than  thirty  minutes  ?  How 
was  she  to  know  that  the  flushed  face  and  frown  were 
born  in  the  course  of  a  night  of  distressing  perplex 
ities  ?  She  knew  only  that  the  sleeping  beauty  who  lay 
before  her  was  the  fairest  creature  in  all  the  universe. 
For  some  minutes  Aunt  Fanny  stood  off  and  admired 
the  rich  youthful  glory  of  the  sleeper,  prophetically 
reluctant  to  disturb  her  happiness.  Then  she  obeyed 
the  impulse  of  duty  and  spoke  the  summoning  words. 

236 


THE    ROSE  237 

"  Wha  —  what  time  is  it?"  demanded  the  new 
comer  from  the  land  of  Nod,  stretching  her  fine  young 
body  witli  a  splendid  but  discontented  yawn. 

"  Seben,  Miss  Bev'ly ;  wha'  time  do  yo'  s'pose  hit 
is?  Hit's  d'  reg'lah  time,  o'  co'se.  Did  yo'  all  have 
a  nice  sleep,  honey  ?  "  and  Aunt  Fanny  went  blissfully 
about  the  business  of  the  hour. 

"  I  didn't  sleep  a  wink,  confound  it,"  grumbled 
Beverly,  rubbing  her  eyes  and  turning  on  her  back  to 
glare  up  at  the  tapestry  above  the  couch. 

"  Yo'  wasn'  winkin'  any  when  Ah  fust  come  into  de 
room,  lemme  tell  yo',"  cackled  Aunt  Fanny  with  caus 
tic  freedom. 

"  See  here,  now,  Aunt  Fanny,  I'm  not  going  to 
stand  any  lecture  from  you  this  morning.  When  a 
fellow  hasn't  slept  a " 

"  Who's  a-lecturin'  anybody,  Ah'd  lak  to  know  ? 
Ah'm  jes'  tellin'  yo'  what  yo'  was  a-doin'  when  Ah 
came  into  dc  room.  Yo'  was  a-sleepin'  p'etty  dog 
gone  tight,  lemme  tell  yo'.  Is  yo'  goin'  out  fo'  yo' 
walk  befo'  b'eakfus,  honey?  'Cause  if  yo'  is,  yo'  all 
'11  be  oblceged  to  climb  out'n  dat  baid  maghty  quick- 
like.  Yo'  baf  is  ready,  Miss  Bev'ly." 

Beverly  splashed  the  water  with  unreasonable  feroc- 
ity  for  a  few  minutes,  trying  to  enjoy  a  diversion  that 
had  not  failed  her  until  this  morning. 

"  Aunt  Fanny,"  she  announced,  after  looking 
darkly  through  her  window  into  the  mountains  above, 
"  if  you  can't  brush  my  hair  —  ouch  !  —  any  easier 
than  this,  I'll  have  someone  else  do  it,  that's  all. 
You're  a  regular  old  bear." 


238        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Po'  lil'  honey,"  was  all  the  complacent  "  bear  " 
said  in  reply,  without  altering  her  methods  in  the  least. 

"  Well,"  said  Beverly  threateningly,  with  a  shake 
of  her  head,  "  be  careful,  that's  all.  Have  you  heard 
the  news  ?  " 

"  Wha'  news,  Miss  Bev'ly  ?  " 

"  We're  going  back  to  Washin'ton." 

"  Thank  de  Lawd !     When  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know.  I've  just  this  instant  made  up  my 
mind.  I  think  we'll  start  —  let's  see :  this  is  the  sixth 
of  August,  isn't  it?  Well,  look  and  see,  if  you  don't 
know,  stupid.  The  tenth?  My  goodness,  where  has 
the  time  gone,  anyway?  Well,  we'll  start  sometime 
between  the  eleventh  and  the  twelfth." 

"  Of  dis  monf,  Miss  Bev'ly?  " 

"  No ;  September.  I  want  you  to  look  up  a  time 
table  for  me  to-day.  We  must  see  about  the  trains." 

"  Dey's  on'y  one  leavin'  hcali  daily,  an'  hit  goes  at 
six  in  de  mo'nin'.  One  train  a  day!  Ain'  'at 
scan'lous  ?  " 

"  I'm  sure,  Aunt  Fanny,  it  is  their  business  —  not 
ours,"  said  Beverly  severely. 

"  P'raps  dcy  mought  be  runnin'  a  excuhsion  'roun' 
'baout  Septembeh,  Miss  Bev'ly,"  speculated  Aunt 
Fanny  consolingly.  "  Dey  gen'ly  has  'em  in  Sep 
tembeh." 

"  You  old  goose,"  cried  Beverly,  in  spite  of  herself. 

"  Ain'  yo'  habin'  er  good  time,  honey  ?  " 

"  No,  I  am  not." 

"  Fo'  de  lan's  sake,  Ah  wouldn'  s'picioned  hit  fo'  a 


THE    ROSE  239 

minnit.  Hit's  de  gayest  place  Ah  mos'  eveh  saw  — • 
'cept  Wasli'ton  an'  Lex'ton  an'  Vicksbu'g." 

"  Well,  you  don't  know  everything,"  said  Beverly 
crossly.  "  I  wish  you'd  take  that  red  feather  out  of 
my  hat  —  right  away." 

"  Shall  Ah  frow  hit  away,  Miss  Bev'ly  ?  " 

"  We  —  11,  no ;  you  needn't  do  that,"  said  Beverly. 
"  Put  it  on  my  dressing-table.  I'll  attend  to  it." 

"  Wha's  become  o'  dc  gemman  'at  wo'  hit  in  the  fust 
place  ?  Ah  ain'  seen  him  f o'  two  —  three  days." 

"  I'm  sure  I  don't  know.  He's  probably  asleep. 
That  class  of  people  never  lose  sleep  over  anything." 

"  'E's  er  pow'f  ul  good-lookin'  pusson,"  suggested 
Aunt  Fanny.  Beverly's  eyes  brightened. 

"Oh,  do  you  think  so?"  she  said,  quite  indiffer 
ently.  "  What  are  you  doing  with  that  hat  ?  " 

"  Takin'  out  de  featheh  —  jes'  as  -    -  " 

"  Well,  leave  it  alone.  Don't  disturb  my  things, 
Aunt  Fanny.  How  many  times  must  I  tell 

you "  ' 

"  Good  Lawd !  "  was  all  that  Aunt  Fanny  could  say. 

"  Don't  forget  about  the  time-tables,"  said  Bev 
erly,  as  she  sallied  forth  for  her  walk  in  the  park. 

In  the  afternoon  she  went  driving  with  Princess 
Yetive  and  the  young  Duke  of  Mizrox,  upon  whose 
innocent  and  sufficiently  troubled  head  she  was  heap 
ing  secret  abuse  because  of  the  news  he  brought. 
Later,  Count  Marian x  appeared  at  the  castle  for  his 
first  lesson  in  poker.  He  looked  so  sure  of  himself 
that  Beverly  hated  him  to  the  point  of  desperation. 
At  the  same  time  she  was  eager  to  learn  how  matters 


240       BEV7ERLY    O.r    GRAUSTARK 

stood  with  Baldos.  The  count's  threat  still  hung 
over  her  head,  veiled  by  its  ridiculous  shadow  of 
mercy.  She  knew  him  well  enough  by  this  time  to 
feel  convinced  that  Baldos  would  have  to  account  for 
his  temerity,  sooner  or  later.  It  was  like  the  cat  and 
the  helpless  mouse. 

"  It's  too  hot,"  she  protested,  when  he  announced 
himself  ready  for  the  game.  "  Nobody  plays  poker 
when  it's  92  in  the  shade." 

"  But,  your  highness,"  complained  the  count,  "  war 
may  break  out  any  day.  I  cannot  concede  delay." 

"  I  think  there's  a  game  called  '  shooting  craps,'  ' 
suggested  she  serenely.     "  It  seems  to  me  it  would  be 
particularly  good  for  warriors.     You  could  be  shoot 
ing  something  all  the  time." 

He  went  away  in  a  decidedly  irascible  frame  of 
mind.  She  did  not  know  it,  but  Baldos  was  soon 
afterward  set  to  work  in  the  garrison  stables,  a  most 
loathsome  occupation,  in  addition  to  his  duties  as  a 
guard  by  night. 

After  mature  deliberation  Beverly  set  herself  to  the 
task  of  writing  home  to  her  father.  It  was  her 
supreme  intention  to  convince  him  that  she  would  be 
off  for  the  States  in  an  amazingly  short  time.  The 
major,  upon  receiving  the  letter  three  weeks  later, 
found  nothing  in  it  to  warrant  the  belief  that  she  was 
ever  coming  home.  He  did  observe,  however,  that 
she  had  but  little  use  for  the  army  of  Graustark,  and 
was  especially  disappointed  in  the  set  of  men  Yetive 
retained  as  her  private  guard.  For  the  life  of  her, 
Beverly  could  not  have  told  why  she  disapproved  of 


THE    ROSE  241 

the  guard  in  general  or  in  particular,  but  she  was 
conscious  of  the  fact,  after  the  letter  was  posted,  that 
she  had  said  many  things  that  might  have  been  left 
unwritten.  Besides,  it  was  not  Baldos's  fault  that 
she  could  not  sleep ;  it  was  distinctly  her  own.  He 
had  nothing  to  do  with  it. 

"  I'll  bet  father  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  I  am  com 
ing  home,"  she  said  to  Yetive,  after  the  letter  was 
gone. 

"  Oh,  Beverly,  dear,  I  hate  to  hear  of  your  going," 
cried  the  princess.  "  When  did  you  tell  him  you'd 
start?" 

"Why,  oh, —  er  —  let  me  see;  when  did  I  say? 
Dash  me  —  as  Mr.  Anguish  would  say  —  I  don't  be 
lieve  I  gave  a  date.  It  seems  to  me  I  said  soon,  that's 
all." 

"  You  don't  know  how  relieved  I  am,"  exclaimed 
Yetive  rapturously,  and  Beverly  was  in  high  dudgeon 
because  of  the  implied  reflection.  "  I  believe  you  are 
in  a  tiff  with  Baldos,"  went  on  Yetive  airily. 

"  Goodness !  How  foolish  you  can  be  at  times, 
Yetive,"  was  what  Beverly  gave  back  to  her  highness, 
the  Princess  of  Graustark. 

Late  in  the  evening  couriers  came  in  from  the 
Dawsbergen  frontier  with  reports  which  created  con 
siderable  excitement  in  castle  and  army  circles. 
Prince  Gabriel  himself  had  been  seen  in  the  northern 
part  of  his  domain,  accompanied  by  a  large  detach 
ment  of  picked  soldiers.  Lorry  set  out  that  very 
night  for  the  frontier,  happy  in  the  belief  that  some 
thing  worth  while  was  about  to  occur.  General  Mar- 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

lanx  issued  orders  for  the  Edelweiss  army  corps  to 
mass  beyond  the  southern  gates  of  the  city  the  next 
morning.  Commands  were  also  sent  to  the  outlying 
garrisons.  There  was  to  be  a  general  movement  of 
troops  before  the  end  of  the  week.  Graustark  was 
not  to  be  caught  napping. 

Long  after  the  departure  of  Lorry  and  Anguish, 
the  princess  sat  on  the  balcony  with  Beverly  and  the 
Countess  Dagmar.  They  did  not  talk  much.  The 
mission  of  these  venturesome  young  American  hus- 
hands  was  full  of  danger.  Something  in  the  air  had 
told  their  wives  that  the  first  blows  of  war  were  to  be 
struck  before  they  looked  again  upon  the  men  they 
loved. 

"  I  think  we  have  been  betrayed  by  someone,"  said 
Dagmar,  after  an  almost  interminable  silence.  Her 
companion  did  not  reply.  "  The  couriers  say  that 
Gabriel  knows  where  we  are  weakest  at  the  front  and 
that  he  knows  our  every  movement.  Yetive,  there  is  a 
spy  here,  after  all." 

"  And  that  spy  has  access  to  the  very  heart  of  our 
deliberations,"  added  Beverly  pointedly.  "  I  say 
this  in  behalf  of  the  man  whom  you  evidently  suspect, 
countess.  He  could  not  know  these  things." 

"  I  do  not  say  that  he  does  know,  Miss  Calhoun,  but 
it  is  not  beyond  reason  that  he  may  be  the  go-between, 
the  means  of  transferring  information  from  the  main 
traitor  to  the  messengers  who  await  outside  our  walls." 

"  Oh,  I  don't  believe  it!  "  cried  Beverly  hotly. 

"  I  wonder  if  these  things  would  have  happened  if 
Baldos  had  never  come  to  Edelweiss  ? "  mused  the 


THE    ROSE  243 

princess.  As  though  by  common  impulse,  both  of  the 
Graustark  women  placed  their  arms  about  Beverly. 

"  It's  because  we  have  so  much  at  stake,  Beverly, 
dear,"'  whispered  Dagmar.  "  Forgive  me  if  I  have 
hurt  you." 

Of  course,  Beverly  sobbed  a  little  in  the  effort  to 
convince  them  that  she  did  not  care  whom  they  ac 
cused,  if  he  proved  to  be  the  right  man  in  the  end. 
They  left  her  alone  on  the  balcony.  For  an  hour 
after  midnight  she  sat  there  and  dreamed.  Everyone 
was  ready  to  turn  against  Baldos.  Even  she  had  been 
harsh  toward  him,  for  had  she  not  seen  him  relegated 
to  the  most  obnoxious  of  duties  after  promising  him 
a  far  different  life?  And  now  what  was  he  thinking 
of  her?  His  descent  from  favor  had  followed  upon 
the  disclosures  which  made  plain  to  each  the  identity 
of  the  other.  No  doubt  he  was  attributing  his  degra 
dation,  in  a  sense,  to  the  fact  that  she  no  longer 
relished  his  services,  having  seen  a  romantic  little  ideal 
shattered  by  his  firm  assertions.  Of  course,  she  knew 
that  General  Marlanx  was  alone  instrumental  in  as 
signing  him  to  the  unpleasant  duty  he  now  observed, 
but  how  was  Baldos  to  know  that  she  was  not  the  real 
power  behind  the  Iron  Count? 

A  light  drizzle  began  to  fall,  cold  and  disagreeable. 
There  were  no  stars,  no  moon.  The  ground  below  was 
black  with  shadows,  but  shimmering  in  spots  touched 
by  the  feeble  park  lamps.  She  retreated  through  her 
window,  determined  to  go  to  bed.  Her  rebellious 
brain,  however,  refused  to  banish  him  from  her 
thoughts.  She  wondered  if  he  were  patroling  the 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

castle  grounds  in  the  rain,  in  all  that  lonely  darkness. 
Seized  by  a  sudden  inspiration,  she  threw  a  gossamer 
about  her,  grasped  an  umbrella  and  ventured  out  upon 
the  balcony  once  more.  Guiltily  she  searched  the 
night  through  the  fine  drizzling  rain ;  her  ears  listened 
eagerly  for  the  tread  which  was  so  well  known  to  her. 

At  last  he  strode  beneath  a  lamp  not  far  away.  He 
looked  up,  but,  of  course,  could  not  see  her  against  the 
dark  wall.  For  a  long  time  he  stood  motionless  be 
neath  the  light.  She  could  not  help  seeing  that  he 
was  dejected,  tired,  unhappy.  His  shoulders 
drooped,  and  there  was  a  general  air  of  listlessness 
about  the  figure  which  had  once  been  so  full  of  cour 
age  and  of  hope.  The  post  light  fell  directly  upon 
his  face.  It  was  somber,  despondent,  strained.  He 
wore  the  air  of  a  prisoner.  Her  heart  went  out  to 
him  like  a  flash.  The  debonair  knight  of  the  black 
patch  was  no  more;  in  his  place  there  stood  a  sullen 
slave  to  discipline. 

"  Baldos !  "  she  called  softly,  her  voice  penetrating 
the  dripping  air  with  the  clearness  of  a  bell.  He 
must  have  been  longing  for  the  sound  of  it,  for  he 
started  and  looked  eagerly  in  her  direction.  His  tall 
form  straightened  as  he  passed  his  hand  over  his 
brow.  It  was  but  a  voice  from  his  dream,  he  thought. 
"  Aren't  you  afraid  you'll  get  wet  ?  "  asked  the  same 
low,  sweet  voice,  with  the  suggestion  of  a  laugh  be 
hind  it.  With  long  strides  he  crossed  the  pavement 
and  stood  almost  directly  beneath  her. 

"Your  highness!"  he  exclaimed  gently,  joyously. 
"  What  are  you  doing  out  there  ?  " 


THE    ROSE  245 

"  Wondering,  Baldos  —  wondering  what  you  were 
thinking  of  as  you  stood  under  the  lamp  over  there." 

"  I  was  thinking  of  your  highness,"  he  called  up, 
softly. 

';  No,  no !  "  she  protested. 

"  I,  too,  was  wondering  —  wondering  what  you 
were  dreaming  of  as  you  slept,  for  you  should  be 
asleep  at  this  hour,  your  highness,  instead  of  standing 
out  there  in  the  rain." 

"  Baldos,"  she  called  down  tremulously,  "  you 
don't  like  this  work,  do  you?  " 

"  It  has  nothing  but  darkness  in  it  for  me.  I  never 
see  the  light  of  your  eyes.  I  never  feel  the " 

"  Sh !  You  must  not  talk  like  that.  It's  not 
proper,  and  besides  someone  may  be  listening.  The 
night  has  a  thousand  ears  —  or  is  it  eyes?  But 
listen :  to-morrow  you  shall  be  restored  to  your  old 
duties.  You  surely  cannot  believe  that  I  had  any 
thing  to  do  with  the  order  which  compels  you  to 
work  at  this  unholy  hour." 

"  I  was  afraid  you  were  punishing  me  for  my  bold 
ness.  My  heart  has  been  sore  —  you  never  can  know 
how  sore.  I  was  disgraced,  dismissed,  forgot 
ten  " 

"  No,  no  —  you  were  not !  You  must  not  say  that. 
Go  away  now,  Baldos.  You  will  ride  with  me  to-mor 
row,"  she  cried  nervously.  "  Please  go  to  some 
place  where  you  won't  get  dripping  wet." 

'  You  forget  that  I  am  on  guard,"  he  said  with  a 
laugh.  "  But  you  are  a  wise  counsellor.  Is  the  rain 
so  pleasant  to  you  ?  " 


246       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  have  an  umbrella,"  she  protested.  "  What  are 
you  doing?"  she  cried  in  alarm.  He  was  coming 
hand  over  hand,  up  the  trellis-work  that  enclosed  the 
lower  verandah. 

"  I  am  coming  to  a  place  where  I  won't  get  drip 
ping  wet,"  he  called  softly.  There  was  a  dangerous 
ring  in  his  voice  and  she  drew  back  in  a  panic. 

"  You  must  not !  "  she  cried  desperately.  '*  This  is 
madness !  Go  down,  sir !  " 

"  I  am  happy  enough  to  fly,  but  cannot.  So  I  do 
the  next  best  thing  —  I  climb  to  you."  His  arm  was 
across  the  stone  railing  by  this  time  and  he  was  pant 
ing  from  the  exertion,  not  two  feet  from  where  she 
crouched.  "  Just  one  minute  of  heaven  before  I  go 
back  to  the  shadows  of  earth.  I  am  happy  again. 
Marlanx  told  me  you  had  dismissed  me.  I  wonder 
what  he  holds  in  reserve  for  me.  I  knew  he  lied,  but 
it  is  not  until  now  that  I  rejoice.  Come,  you  are  to 
shield  me  from  the  rain." 

"  Oh,  oh !  "  she  gasped,  overwhelmed  by  his  daring 
passion.  "  I  should  die  if  anyone  saw  you  here." 
Yet  she  spasmodically  extended  the  umbrella  so  that 
it  covered  him  and  left  her  out  in  the  drizzle. 

"  And  so  should  I,"  responded  he  softly.  "  Listen 
to  me.  For  hours  and  hours  I  have  been  longing  for 
the  dear  old  hills  in  which  you  found  me.  I  wanted 
to  crawl  out  of  Edelweiss  and  lose  myself  forever  in 
the  rocks  and  crags.  To-night  when  you  saw  me  I 
was  trying  to  say  good-bye  to  you  forever.  I 
was  trying  to  make  up  my  mind  to  desert.  I  could 
not  endure  the  new  order  of  things.  You  had  cast 


THE    ROSE  247 

me  off.  My  friends  out  there  were  eager  to  have  me 
with  them.  In  the  city  everyone  is  ready  to  call  me  a 
spy  —  even  you,  I  thought.  Life  was  black  and 
drear.  Now,  my  princess,  it  is  as  bright  as  heaven 
itself." 

"  You  must  not  talk  like  this,"  she  whiskered  help 
lessly.  "  You  are  making  me  sorry  I  called  to  you." 

"  I  should  have  heard  you  if  you  had  only  whis 
pered,  my  rain  princess.  I  have  no  right  to  talk  of 
love  —  I  am  a  vagabond ;  but  I  have  a  heart,  and 
it  is  a  bold  one.  Perhaps  I  dream  that  I  am  here  be 
side  you  —  so  near  that  I  can  touch  your  face  —  but 
it  is  the  sweetest  of  dreams.  But  for  it  I  should  have 
left  Edelweiss  weeks  ago.  I  shall  never  awaken  from 
this  dream;  you  cannot  rob  me  of  the  joys  of  dream 
ing." 

Under  the  spell  of  his  passion  she  drew  nearer  ta 
him  as  he  clung  strongly  to  the  rail.  The  roses  at 
her  throat  came  so  close  that  he  could  bury  his  face 
in  them.  Her  hand  touched  his  cheek,  and  he  kissed 
its  palm  again  and  again,  his  wet  lips  stinging  her 
blood  to  the  tips  of  her  toes. 

"  Go  away,  please,"  she  implored  faintly.  "  Don't, 
you  see  that  you  must  not  stay  here  —  now  ?  " 

"  A  rose,  my  princess, —  one  rose  to  kiss  all 
through  the  long  night,"  he  whispered.  She  could 
feel  his  eyes  burning  into  her  heart.  With  trembling, 
hurried  fingers  she  tore  loose  a  rose.  He  could  not 
seize  it  with  his  hands  because  of  the  position  he  held, 
and  she  laughed  tantalizingly.  Then  she  kissed  it 


248       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

first  and  pressed  it  against  his  mouth.  His  lips  and 
teeth  closed  over  the  stem  and  the  rose  was  his. 

"  There  are  thorns,"  she  whispered,  ever  so  softly. 

"  They  are  the  riches  of  the  poor,"  he  murmured 
with  difficulty,  but  she  understood. 

"  Now,  *go,"  she  said,  drawing  resolutely  away. 
An  instant  later  his  head  disappeared  below  the  rail. 
Peering  over  the  side  she  saw  his  figure  spring  easily 
to  the  ground,  and  then  came  the  rapid,  steady  tramp 
as  he  went  away  on  his  dreary  patrol. 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,"  she  was  whispering  to  herself 
between  joy  and  shame. 

Glancing  instinctively  ou'.  toward  the  solitary  lamp 
she  saw  two  men  standing  in  its  light.  One  of  them 
was  General  Marlanx ;  the  other  she  knew  to  be  the 
spy  that  watched  Baldos.  Her  heart  sank  like  lead 
when  she  saw  that  the  two  were  peering  intently 
toward  the  balcony  where  she  stood,  and  where  Baldos 
had  clung  but  a  moment  before. 


CHAPTER  XXII 


A    PROPOSAL 

HE  shrank  back  with  a  great  dread 
in  her  heart.  Marlanx,  of  all  men ! 
Why  was  he  in  the  park  at  this 
hour  of  the  night?  There  could  be 
but  one  answer,  and  the  very  thought 
of  it  almost  suffocated  her.  He  was 
drawing  the  net  with  his  own  hands,  he  was  spy 
ing  with  his  own  eyes.  For  a  full  minute  it  seemed  to 
her  that  her  heart  would  stop  beating.  How  long 
had  he  been  standing  there?  What  had  he  seen  or 
heard?  Involuntarily  she  peered  over  the  rail  for  a 
glimpse  of  Baldos.  He  had  gone  out  into  the  dark 
ness,  missing  the  men  at  the  lamp-post  either  by  choice 
or  through  pure  good  fortune.  A  throb  of  thankful 
ness  assailed  her  heart.  She  was  not  thinking  of  her 
position,  but  of  his. 

Again  she  drew  stealthily  away  from  the  rail,  pos 
sessed  of  a  ridiculous  feeling  that  her  form  was  as 
plain  to  the  vision  as  if  it  were  broad  daylight.  The 
tread  of  a  man  impelled  her  to  glance  below  once  more 
before  fleeing  to  her  room.  Marlanx  was  coming 
toward  the  verandah.  She  fled  swiftly,  pausing  at 
the  window  to  lower  the  friendly  but  forgotten  um- 

249 


250       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

brella.  From  below  came  the  sibilant  hiss  of  a  man 
seeking  to  attract  her  attention.  Once  more  she 
stopped  to  listen.  The  "  hist "  was  repeated,  and 
then  her  own  name  was  called  softly  but  imperatively. 
It  was  beyond  the  power  of  woman  to  keep  from 
laughing.  It  struck  her  as  irresistibly  funny  that 
the  Iron  Count  should  be  standing  out  there  in  the 
rain,  signaling  to  her  like  a  love-sick  boy.  Once  she 
was  inside,  however,  it  did  not  seem  so  amusing. 
Still,  it  gave  her  an  immense  amount  of  satisfaction  to 
slam  the  windows  loudly,  as  if  in  pure  defiance.  Then 
she  closed  the  blinds,  shutting  out  the  night  com 
pletely. 

Turning  up  the  light  at  her  dressing-table,  she  sat 
down  in  a  state  of  sudden  collapse.  For  a  long  time 
she  stared  at  her  face  in  the  mirror.  She  saw  the 
red  of  shame  and  embarrassment  mount  to  her  cheeks 
and  then  she  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hands. 

"  Oh,  what  a  fool  you've  been,"  she  half  sobbed, 
shrinking  from  the  mirror  as  if  it  were  an  accuser. 

She  prepared  for  bed  with  frantic  haste.  Just  as 
she  was  about  to  scramble  in  and  hide  her  face  in  the 
pillows,  a  shocking  thought  came  to  her.  The  next 
instant  she  was  at  the  windows  and  the  slats  were 
closed  with  a  rattle  like  a  volley  of  firearms.  Then 
she  jumped  into  bed.  She  wondered  if  the  windows 
were  locked.  Out  she  sprang  again  like  a  flash,  and 
her  little  bare  feet  scurried  across  the  room,  first  to 
the  windows  and  then  to  the  door. 

"  Now,  I  reckon  I'm  safe,"  she  murmured  a  moment 
later,  again  getting  into  bed.  "  I  love  to  go  to  sleep 


A   PROPOSAL  251 

with  the  rain  pattering  outside  like  that.  Oh,  dear, 
I'm  so  sorry  he  has  to  walk  all  night  in  this  rain. 
Poor  fellow!  I  wonder  where  he  is  now.  Goodness, 
it's  raining  cats  and  dogs !  " 

But  in  spite  of  the  rain  she  could  not  go  to  sleep. 
Vague  fears  began  to  take  possession  of  her.  Some 
thing  dreadful  told  her  that  Count  Marlanx  was  on 
the  balcony  and  at  her  window,  notwithstanding  the 
rainpour.  The  fear  became  oppressive,  maddening. 
She  felt  the  man's  presence  almost  as  strongly  as  if 
he  were  in  plain  view.  He  was  there,  she  knew  it. 

The  little  revolver  that  had  served  her  so  valiantly 
at  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven  lay  upon  a  stool 
near  the  bedside  every  night.  Consumed  by  the  fear 
that  the  window  might  open  slowly  at  any  moment,  she 
reached  forth  and  clutched  the  weapon.  Then  she 
shrank  back  in  the  bed,  her  eyes  fixed  upon  the  black 
space  across  the  room.  For  hours  she  shivered  and 
waited  for  the  window  to  open,  dozing  away  time  and 
again  only  to  come  back  to  wakefulness  with  a  start. 

The  next  morning  she  confessed  to  herself  that  her 
fears  had  been  silly.  Her  first  act  after  breakfasting 
alone  in  her  room  was  to  seek  out  Colonel  Quinnox, 
commander  of  the  castle  guard.  In  her  mind  she  was 
greatly  troubled  over  the  fate  of  the  bold  visitor  of 
the  night  before.  There  was  a  warm,  red  glow  in 
her  face  and  a  quick  beat  in  her  heart  as  she  crossed 
the  parade-ground.  Vagabond  though  he  was,  he 
had  conquered  where  princes  had  failed.  Her  better 
judgment  told  her  that  she  could  be  nothing  to  this 
debonair  knight  of  the  road,  yet  her  heart  stubbornly 


252       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

resisted  all  the  arguments  that  her  reason  put  forth. 

Colonel  Quinnox  was  pleasant,  but  he  could  give 
Beverly  no  promise  of  leniency  in  regard  to  Baldos. 
Instructions  had  come  to  him  from  General  Marlanx, 
and  he  could  not  set  them  aside  at  will.  Her  plea 
that  he  might  once  more  be  assigned  to  old-time  duties 
found  the  colonel  regretfully  obdurate.  Baldos  could 
not  ride  with  her  again  until  Marlanx  withdrew  the 
order  which  now  obtained.  Beverly  swallowed  her 
pride  and  resentment  diplomatically,  smiled  her  sweet 
est  upon  the  distressed  colonel,  and  marched  defiantly 
back  to  the  castle.  Down  in  her  rebellious,  insulted 
heart  she  was  concocting  all  sorts  of  plans  for  re 
venge.  Chief  among  them  was  the  terrible  overthrow 
of  the  Iron  Count.  Her  wide  scope  of  vengeance 
even  contemplated  the  destruction  of  Graustark  if  her 
end  could  be  obtained  in  no  other  way. 

Full  of  these  bitter-sweet  thoughts  she  came  to  the 
castle  doors  before  she  saw  who  was  waiting  for  her 
upon  the  great  verandah.  As  she  mounted  the  steps, 
a  preoccupied  frown  upon  her  fair  brow,  General  Mar 
lanx,  lean,  crafty  and  confident,  advanced  to  greet 
her.  The  early  hour  was  responsible  for  the  bright 
solitude  which  marked  the  place.  But  few  signs  of 
life  were  in  evidence  about  the  castle. 

She  stopped  with  a  sharp  exclamation  of  surprise. 
Then  scorn  and  indignation  rushed  in  to  fill  the  place 
of  astonishment.  She  faced  the  smiling  old  man  with 
anger  in  her  eyes. 

"  Good    morning,"   he    said,    extending   his   hand, 


A    PROPOSAL  253 

which  she  did  not  see.  She  was  wondering  how  much 
he  had  seen  and  heard  at  midnight. 

"  I  thought  the  troops  were  massing  this  morning," 
she  said  coldly.  "Don't  you  mass,  too?" 

"  There  is  time  enough  for  that,  my  dear.  I  came 
to  have  a  talk  with  you  —  in  private,"  he  said  mean 
ingly. 

"  It  is  sufficiently  private  here,  Count  Marlanx. 
What  have  you  to  say  to  me?  " 

"  I  want  to  talk  about  last  night.  You  were  very 
reckless  to  do  what  you  did." 

"  Oh,  you  were  playing  the  spy,  then  ?  "  she  asked 
scornfully. 

"  An  involuntary  observer,  believe  me  —  and  a 
jealous  one.  I  had  hoped  to  win  the  affections  of  an 
innocent  girl.  What  I  saw  last  night  shocked  me 
beyond  expression." 

"  Well,  you  shouldn't  have  looked,"  she  retorted, 
tossing  her  chin ;  and  the  red  feather  in  her  hat  bobbed 
angrily. 

"  I  am  surprised  that  one  as  clever  as  you  are  could 
have  carried  on  an  amour  so  incautiously,"  he  said 
blandly. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  I  mean  that  I  saw  everything  that  occurred." 

"  Well,  I'm  not  ashamed  of  it,"  obstinately. 
"  Good-bye,  Count  Marlanx." 

"  One  moment,  please.  I  cannot  let  you  off  so 
easily.  What  right  had  you  to  take  that  man  into 
your  room,  a  place  sacred  in  the  palace  of  Graustark? 
Answer  me,  Miss  Calhoun." 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Beverly  drew  back  in  horror  and  bewilderment. 

"  Into  my  room?  "  she  gasped. 

"  Let  us  waste  no  time  in  subterfuge.  I  saw  him 
come  from  your  window,  and  I  saw  all  that  passed 
between  you  in  the  balcon}7.  Love's  eyes  are  keen. 
What  occurred  in  your  chamber  I  can  only " 

"  Stop !  How  dare  you  say  such  a  thing  to  me  ?  " 
she  fiercely  cried.  "  You  miserable  coward !  You 
know  he  was  not  in  my  room.  Take  it  back  —  take 
back  every  word  of  that  lie !  "  She  was  white  with 
passion,  cold  with  terror. 

"  Bah !  This  is  childish.  I  am  not  the  only  one 
who  saw  him,  my  dear.  He  was  in  your  room  —  you 
were  in  his  arms.  It's  useless  to  deny  it.  And  to 
think  that  I  have  spared  him  from  death  to  have  it 
come  to  this !  You  need  not  look  so  horrified.  Your 
secret  is  safe  with  me.  I  come  to  make  terms  with 
you.  My  silence  in  exchange  for  your  beauty.  It's 
worth  it  to  you.  One  word  from  me,  you  are  dis 
graced  and  Baldos  dies.  Come,  my  fair  lady,  give 
me  your  promise,  it's  a  good  bargain  for  both." 

Beverly  was  trembling  like  a  leaf.  This  phase  of 
his  villainy  had  not  occurred  to  her.  She  was  like  a 
bird  trying  to  avoid  the  charmed  eye  of  the  serpent. 
"  Oh,  you  —  you  miserable  wretch !  "  she  cried, 
hoarse  with  anger  and  despair.  "  What  a  cur  you 
are !  You  know  you  are  not  speaking  the  truth. 
How  can  you  say  such  things  to  me?  I  have  never 
wronged  you "  She  was  almost  in  tears,  im 
potent  with  shame  and  fear. 

"  It  has  been  a  pretty  game  of  love  for  you  and 


A    PROPOSAL  255 

the  excellent  Baldos.  You  have  deceived  those  who 
love  you  best  and  trust  you  most.  What  will  the 
princess  say  when  she  hears  of  last  night's  merry 
escapade?  What  will  she  say  when  she  learns  who 
was  hostess  to  a  common  guardsman  at  the  midnight 
hour?  It  is  no  wonder  that  you  look  terrified.  It  is 
for  you  to  say  whether  she  is  to  know  or  not.  You 
can  bind  me  to  silence.  You  have  lost  Baldos.  Take 
me  and  all  that  I  can  give  you  in  his  stead,  and  the 
world  never  shall  know  the  truth.  You  love  him,  I 
know,  and  there  is  but  one  way  to  save  him.  Say  the 
word  and  he  goes  free  to  the  hills;  decline  and  his 
life  is  not  Avorth  a  breath  of  air." 

"  And  pretending  to  believe  this  of  me,  you  still 
ask  me  to  be  your  wife.  What  kind  of  a  man  are 
you?  "  she  demanded,  scarcely  able  to  speak. 

"  My  wife?  "  he  said  harshly.  "  Oh,  no.  You  are 
not  the  wife  of  Baldos,"  he  added  significantly. 

"  Good  God ! "  gasped  Beverly,  crushed  by  the 
brutality  of  it  all.  "  I  would  sooner  die.  Would  to 
heaven  my  father  were  here,  he  would  shoot  you  as  he 
would  a  dog !  Oh,  how  I  loathe  you !  Don't  you  try 
to  stop  me!  I  shall  go  to  the  princess  myself.  She 
shall  know  what  manner  of  beast  you  are." 

She  was  racing  up  the  steps,  flaming  with  anger 
and  shame. 

"  Remember,  I  can  prove  what  I  have  said.  Be 
ware  what  you  do.  I  love  you  so  much  that  I  now  ask 
you  to  become  my  wife.  Think  well  over  it.  Your 
honor  and  his  life !  It  rests  with  you,"  he  cried 
eagerly,  following  her  to  the  door. 


"  You  disgusting  old  fool,"  she  hissed,  turning 
upon  him  as  she  pulled  the  big  brass  knocker  on  the 
door. 

"  I  must  have  my  answer  to-night,  or  you  know 
what  will  happen,"  he  snarled,  but  he  felt  in  his  heart 
that  he  had  lost  through  his  eagerness. 

She  flew  to  Yetive's  boudoir,  consumed  by  rage  and 
mortification.  Between  sobs  and  feminine  maledic 
tions  she  poured  the  whole  story,  in  all  its  ugliness, 
into  the  ears  of  the  princess. 

"  Now,  Yetive,  you  have  to  stand  by  me  in  this," 
announced  the  narrator  conclusively,  her  eyes  beam 
ing  hopefully  through  her  tears. 

"  I  cannot  prevent  General  Marlanx  from  prefer 
ring  serious  charges  against  Baldos,  dear.  I  know 
he  was  not  in  your  room  last  night.  You  did  not 
have  to  tell  me  that,  because  I  saw  you  both  at  the 
balcony  rail."  Beverly's  face  took  on  such  a  radiant 
look  of  rejoicing  that  Yetive  was  amply  paid  for  the 
surprising  and  gratifying  acknowledgment  of  a  sec 
ond  period  of  eavesdropping.  "  You  may  depend 
upon  me  to  protect  you  from  Marlanx.  He  can  make 
it  very  unpleasant  for  Baldos,  but  he  shall  pay  dearly 
for  this  insult  to  you.  He  has  gone  too  far." 

"  I  don't  think  he  has  any  proof  against  Baldos," 
said  Beverly,  thinking  only  of  the  guardsman. 

"  But  it  is  so  easy  to  manufacture  evidence,  my 
dear.  The  Iron  Count  has  set  his  heart  upon  having 
you,  and  he  is  not  the  man  to  be  turned  aside  easily." 

"  He  seems  to  think  he  can  get  wives  as  easily  as 
he  gets  rid  of  them,  I  observe.  I  was  going  back  to 


A    PROPOSAL  257 

Washington  soon,  Yetivc,  but  I'll  stay  on  now  and  see 
this  thing  to  the  end.  He  can't  scare  a  Calhoun,  no 
sir-ee.  I'll  telegraph  for  my  brother  Dan  to  come 
over  here  and  punch  his  head  to  pieces." 

"  Now,  no\v, —  don't  be  so  high  and  mighty,  dear. 
Let  us  see  how  rational  we  can  be,"  said  the  princess 
gently.  Whereupon  the  hot-headed  girl  from  Dixie 
suspended  hostilities  and  became  a  very  demure  young 
woman.  Before  long  she  was  Confessing  timidly, 
then  boldly,  that  she  Uved  Baldos  better  than  any 
thing  in  all  the  world. 

"  I  can't  help  it,  Yetive.  I  know  I  oughtn't  to, 
but  what  is  there  to  do  when  one  can't  help  it  ?  There 
would  be  an  awful  row  at  home  if  I  married  him.  Of 
course,  he  hasn't  asked  me.  Maybe  he  won't.  In 
fact,  I'm  sure  he  won't.  I  shan't  give  him  a  chance. 
But  if  he  does  ask  me  I'll  just  keep  putting  him  off. 
I've  done  it  before,  you  know.  You  see,  for  a  long, 
long  time,  I  fancied  he  might  be  a  prince,  but  he  isn't 
at  all.  I've  had  his  word  for  it.  He's  just  an  ordi 
nary  person  —  like  —  like  —  well,  like  I  am.  Only 
he  doesn't  look  so  ordinary.  Isn't  he  handsome,  Ye 
tive?  And,  dear  me,  he  is  so  impulsive!  If  he  had 
asked  me  to  jump  over  the  balcony  rail  with  him  last 
night,  I  believe  I  would  have  done  it.  Wouldn't  that 
have  surprised  old  Marlanx?  "  Beverly  gave  a  merry 
laugh.  The  troubles  of  the  morning  seemed  to  fade 
away  under  the  warmth  of  her  humor.  Yetive  sat 
back  and  marvelled  at  the  manner  in  which  this  blithe 
young  American  cast  out  the  "  blue  devils." 

"  You  must  not  do  anything  foolish,  Beverly,"  she 


258       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

cautioned.  "  Your  parents  would  never  forgive  me 
if  I  allowed  you  to  marry  or  even  to  fall  in  love  with 
any  Tom,  Dick  or  Harry  over  here.  Baldos  may  be 
the  gallant,  honest  gentleman  we  believe  him  to  be, 
but  he  also  may  be  the  worst  of  adventurers.  One  can 
never  tell,  dear.  I  wish  now  that  I  had  not  humored 
you  in  your  plan  to  bring  him  to  the  castle.  I'm 
afraid  I  have  done  wrong.  You  have  seen  too  much 
of  him  and  —  oh,  well,  you  will  be  sensible,  won't  you, 
dear  ?  "  There  was  real  concern  in  the  face  of  the 
princess.  Beverly  kissed  her  rapturously. 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,  Yetive.  I  know  how  to 
take  care  of  myself.  Worry  about  your  old  Gabriel, 
if  you  like,  but  don't  bother  your  head  about  me," 
she  cried  airily.  "  Now  let's  talk  about  the  war. 
Marlanx  won't  do  anything  until  he  hears  from  me. 
What's  the  use  worrying?  " 

Nightfall  brought  General  Marlanx  in  from  the 
camps  outside  the  gates.  He  came  direct  to  the 
castle  and  boldly  sent  word  to  Beverly  that  he  must 
speak  to  her  at  once.  She  promptly  answered  that 
she  did  not  want  to  see  him  and  would  not.  Without 
a  moment's  hesitation  he  appealed  for  an  audience 
with  the  princess,  and  it  was  granted. 

He  proceeded,  with  irate  coolness,  to  ask  how  far 
she  believed  herself  bound  to  protect  the  person  of 
Baldos,  the  guard.  He  understood  that  she  was 
under  certain  obligations  to  Miss  Calhoun  and  he 
wanted  to  be  perfectly  sure  of  his  position  before  tak 
ing  a  step  which  now  seemed  imperative.  Baldos  was 
a  spy  in  the  employ  of  Dawsbergen.  He  had  suffi- 


A    PROPOSAL  259 

cient  proof  to  warrant  his  arrest  and  execution ;  there 
were  documents,  and  there  was  positive  knowledge 
that  he  had  conferred  with  strangers  from  time  to 
time,  even  within  the  walls  of  the  castle  grounds. 
Marlanx  cited  instances  in  which  Baldos  had  been 
seen  talking  to  a  strange  old  man  inside  the  grounds, 
and  professed  to  have  proof  that  he  had  gone  so  far 
as  to  steal  away  by  night  to  meet  men  beyond  the 
city  walls.  He  wras  now  ready  to  seize  the  guard, 
but  would  not  do  so  until  he  had  conferred  with  his 
sovereign. 

"  Miss  Calhoun  tells  me  that  you  have  made  certain 
proposals  to  her,  Count  Marlanx,"  said  Yetive  coldly, 
her  eyes  upon  his  hawkish  face. 

"  I  have  asked  her  to  be  my  wife,  your  highness." 
"  You  have  threatened  her,  Count  Marlanx." 
"  She  has  exposed  herself  to  you?     I  would  not 
have  told  what  I  saw  last  night." 

"  Would  it  interest  you  to  know  that  I  saw  every 
thing  that  passed  on  the  balcony  last  night?  You 
will  allow  me  to  say,  general,  that  you  have  behaved 
in  a  most  outrageous  manner  in  approaching1  my 
guest  with  such  foul  proposals.  Stop,  sir!  She  has 
told  me  everything  and  I  believe  her.  I  believe  my 
own  eyes.  There  is  no  need  to  discuss  the  matter 
further.  You  have  lost  the  right  to  be  called  a  man. 
For  the  present  I  have  only  to  say  that  you  shall  be 
relieved  of  the  command  of  my  army.  The  man  who 
makes  war  on  women  is  not  fit  to  serve  one.  As  for 
Baldos,  you  arc  at  liberty  to  prefer  the  charges.  He 
shall  have  a  fair  trial,  rest  assured." 


260        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Your  highness,  hear  me,"  implored  Marlanx, 
white  to  the  roots  of  his  hair. 

"  I  will  hear  what  you  have  to  say  when  my  hus 
band  is  at  my  side." 

"  I  can  but  stand  condemned,  then,  your  liighness, 
without  a  hearing.  My  vindication  will  come,  how 
ever.  With  your  permission,  I  retire  to  contrive  the 
arrest  of  this  spy.  You  may  depose  me,  but  you  can 
not  ask  me  to  neglect  my  duty  to  Graustark.  I  have 
tried  to  save  him  for  Miss  Calhoun's  sake  — 
But  her  hand  was  pointing  to  the  door. 

Ten  minutes  later  Beverly  was  hearing  everything 
from  the  lips  of  the  princess,  and  Marlanx  was  curs 
ing  his  way  toward  the  barracks,  vengeance  in  his 
heart.  But  a  swift  messenger  from  the  castle  reached 
the  guard-room  ahead  of  him.  Colonel  Quinnox  was 
reading  an  official  note  from  the  princess  when  Mar 
lanx  strode  angrily  into  the  room. 

"  Bring  this  fellow  Baldos  to  me,  Colonel  Quin 
nox,"  he  said,  without  greeting. 

"  I  regret  to  say  that  I  have  but  this  instant  re 
ceived  a  message  from  her  highness,  commanding  me 
to  send  him  to  the  castle,"  said  Quinnox,  with  a  smile. 

"The  devil!  What  foolishness  is  this?"  snarled 
the  Iron  Count. 

"  Have  a  care,  sir,"  said  Quinnox  stiffly.  "  It  is 
of  the  princess  you  speak." 

"  Bah !  I  am  here  to  order  the  man's  arrest.  It  is 
more  important  than 

"  Nevertheless,  sir,  he  goes  to  the  castle  first.     This 


A    PROPOSAL  261 

note  says  that  I  am  to  disregard  any  command  you 
may  give  until  further  notice." 

Marlanx  fell  back  amazed  and  stunned.  At  this 
juncture  Baldos  entered  the  room.  Quinnox  handed 
him  an  envelope,  telling  him  that  it  was  from  the  prin 
cess  and  that  he  was  to  repair  at  once  to  the  castle. 
Baldos  glanced  at  the  handwriting,  and  his  face  lit  up 
proudly. 

"  I  am  ready  to  go,  sir,"  he  said,  passing  the  Iron 
Count  with  a  most  disconcerting  smile  on  his  face. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
A    SHOT    IN    THE    DARKNESS 

ALDOS   started   off   at   once    for   the 
castle,     his     heart     singing.     In     the 
darkness    of   the    night   he   kissed   the 
message  which  had  come  to  him  from 
"  her    highness."      The    envelope    had 
been    closed    with    the    official    seal    of 
Yetive,  Princess  of  Graustark,  and  was  sacred  to  the 
eyes  of  anyone  save  the  man  to  whom  it  was  directed. 
The  words  it  contained  were  burned  deep  in  his  brain : 

"  You  are  ordered  to  report  for  duty  in  the  castle.  Come 
at  once.  Her  highness  has  sent  an  official  command  tn  Colonel 
Quinnox.  Count  Marlanx  has  been  here.  You  are  not  ex 
pected  to  desert  until  you  have  seen  me.  There  is  an  under 
ground  passage  somewhere. —  B." 

Baldos  went  alone  and  swiftly.  The  note  to  Colonel 
Quinnox  had  been  imperative.  He  was  to  serve  as  an 
inner  guard  until  further  orders.  Someone,  it  was 
reported,  had  tried  to  enter  Miss  Calhoun's  room  from 
the  outside  during  the  rainstorm  of  the  previous  night, 
and  a  special  guard  was  to  be  stationed  near  the  door. 
All  of  this  was  unknown  to  Baldos,  but  he  did  not 
ask  for  any  explanations. 

He  was  half  way  to  the  castle  when  the  sharp  re 
port  of  a  gun  startled  him.  A  bullet  whizzed  close 

262 


A    SHOT    IN    THE    DARKNESS     263 

to  his  ear !  Baldos  broke  into  a  crouching  run,  but 
did  not  change  his  course.  He  knew  that  the  shot 
was  intended  for  him,  and  that  its  mission  was  to  pre 
vent  him  from  reaching  the  castle.  The  attendants  at 
the  castle  door  admitted  him,  panting  and  excited, 
and  he  was  taken  immediately  to  the  enchanted 
boudoir  of  the  princess  which  but  few  men  were  for 
tunate  enough  to  enter.  There  were  three  women  in 
the  room. 

"  I  am  here  to  report,  your  highness,"  said  he,  bow 
ing  low  before  the  real  princess,  with  a  smile  upon 
his  flushed  face. 

"  You  are  prompt,"  said  the  princess.  "  What 
have  you  to  report,  sir  ?  " 

"  That  an  attempt  has  just  been  made  to  kill  a 
member  of  the  castle  guard,"  he  coolly  answered. 

"  Impossible !  " 

"  I  am  quite  certain  of  it,  your  highness.  The 
bullet  almost  clipped  my  ear." 

"  Good  heavens !  "  gasped  the  listeners.  Then  they 
eagerly  plied  him  with  more  agitated  questions  than 
he  could  answer. 

"  And  did  you  not  pursue  the  wretch  ?  "  cried  the 
princess. 

"  No,  your  highness.  I  was  commanded  to  report 
to  you  at  once.  Only  the  success  of  the  assassin 
could  have  made  me  —  well,  hesitate,"  said  he  calmly. 
"  A  soldier  has  but  to  obey." 

"  Do  you  think  there  was  a  deliberate  attempt  to 
kill  you?"  asked  the  Countess  Dagmar.  Beverly 
Calhoun  was  dumb  with  consternation. 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  cannot  say,  madame.  Possibly  it  was  an  acci 
dental  discharge.  One  should  not  make  accusations 
unsupported.  If  you  have  no  immediate  need  of  my 
services,  your  highness,  I  will  ask  you  to  grant  me 
leave  of  absence  for  half  an  hour.  I  have  a  peculiar 
longing  to  investigate."  There  was  a  determined 
gleam  in  his  eyes. 

"  No,  no !  "  cried  Beverly.  "  Don't  you  dare  to  go 
out  there  again.  You  are  to  stay  right  here  in  the 
castle,  sir.  We  have  something  else  for  you  to  do. 
It  was  that  awful  old  Marlanx  who  shot  at  you. 
He-  -" 

"  I  left  General  Marlanx  in  Colonel  Quinnox's 
quarters,  Miss  Calhoun,"  interposed  Baldos  grimly. 
"  He  could  not  have  fired  the  shot.  For  two  or  three 
nights,  your  highness,  I  have  been  followed  and  dog 
ged  with  humiliating  persistence  by  two  men  wear 
ing  the  uniforms  of  castle  guards.  They  do  not 
sleep  at  the  barracks.  May  I  ask  what  I  have  done 
to  be  submitted  to  such  treatment?  "  There  was  a 
trace  of  poorly  concealed  indignation  in  his  voice. 

"  I  assure  you  that  this  is  news  to  me,"  said  Yetive 
in  amazement. 

"  I  am  being  watched  as  if  I  were  a  common  thief," 
he  went  on  boldly.  "  These  men  are  not  your  agents ; 
they  are  not  the  agents  of  Graustark.  May  I  be 
permitted  to  say  that  they  are  spies  set  upon  me  by  a 
man  who  has  an  object  in  disgracing  me?  Who  that 
man  is,  I  leave  to  your  royal  conjecture." 

"Marlanx?" 

"  Yes,    your    highness.     He    bears    me    a    deadly 


A    SHOT    IN    THE    DARKNESS     265 

grudge  and  yet  he  fears  me.  I  know  full  well  that  he 
and  his  agents  have  built  a  strong  case  against  me. 
They  are  almost  ready  to  close  in  upon  me,  and  they 
will  have  false  evidence  so  craftily  prepared  that  even 
my  truest  friends  may  doubt  my  loyalty  to  you  and 
to  the  cause  I  serve.  Before  God,  I  have  been  true 
to  my  oath.  I  am  loyal  to  Graustark.  It  was  a 
sorry  day  when  I  left  the  valley  and " 

"  Oh !  cried  Beverly  piteously.  "  Don't  say 
that." 

"  Alas,  Miss  Calhoun,  it  is  true,"  said  he  sadly. 
*'  I  am  penned  up  here  where  I  cannot  fight  back. 
Treason  is  laid  against  me.  But,  beyond  all  this,  I 
have  permitted  my  loyalty  to  mislead  my  ambition. 
I  have  aspired  to  something  I  can  cherish  but  never 
possess.  Better  that  I  never  should  have  tasted  of 
the  unattainable  than  to  have  the  cup  withdrawn  just 
as  its  sweetness  begins  to  intoxicate." 

He  stood  before  them,  pale  with  suppressed  emo 
tion.  The  women  of  Graustark  looked  involuntarily 
at  Beverly,  who  sat  cold  and  voiceless,  staring  at  the 
face  of  the  guard.  She  knew  what  he  meant;  she 
knew  that  something  was  expected  of  her.  A  word 
from  her  and  he  would  understand  that  he  had  not 
tasted  of  the  unattainable.  In  one  brief  moment  she 
saw  that  she  had  deliberately  led  him  on,  that  she  had 
encouraged  him,  that  she  actually  had  proffered  him 
the  cup  from  which  he  had  begun  to  sip  the  bitterness. 
Pride  and  love  were  waging  a  conflict  in  this  hapless 
southern  girl's  heart.  But  she  was  silent.  She  could 
not  say  the  word. 


266       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  think  I  know  what  you  mean,  Baldos,"  said  Ye 
tive,  seeing  that  Beverly  would  not  intervene.  "  We 
are  sorry.  No  one  trusts  to  your  honor  more  than  I 
do.  My  husband  believes  in  you.  I  will  confess  that 
you  are  to  be  arrested  as  a  spy  to-morrow.  To-night 
you  are  to  serve  as  a  guard  in  the  castle.  This  should 
prove  to  you  that  I  have  unbounded  faith  in  you. 
Moreover,  I  believe  in  you  to  the  extent  that  I  should 
not  be  afraid  to  trust  you  if  you  were  to  go  out  into 
the  world  with  every  secret  which  we  possess.  You 
came  here  under  a  peculiar  stress  of  circumstances, 
not  wholly  of  your  own  volition.  Believe  me,  I  am 
your  friend." 

"  I  shall  revere  your  highness  forever  for  those 
words,"  said  he  simply.  His  eyes  went  hungrily 
to  Beverly's  averted  face,  and  then  assumed  a  care 
less  gleam  which  indicated  that  he  had  resigned  him 
self  to  the  inevitable. 

"  I  am  constrained  to  ask  you  one  question,  sir," 
went  on  the  princess.  "  You  are  not  the  common 
goat-hunter  you  assume.  Will  you  tell  me  in  con 
fidence  who  you  really  are  ?  "  The  others  held  their 
breath.  He  hesitated  for  a  moment. 

"  Will  it  suffice  if  I  say  that  I  am  an  unfortunate 
friend  and  advocate  of  Prince  Dantan?  I  have 
risked  everything  for  his  sake  and  I  fear  I  have  lost 
everything.  I  have  failed  to  be  of  service  to  him, 
but  through  no  fault  of  mine.  Fate  has  been  against 
me." 

"  You  are  Christobal,"  cried  Dagmar  eagerly. 
He  gave  her  a  startled  glance,  but  offered  no  denial. 


A    SHOT    IN    THE    DARKNESS     267 

Beverly's  face  was  a  study.  If  he  were  Christobal, 
then  what  of  the  game- warden's  daughter? 

"  We  shall  question  you  no  further,"  said  Yetive. 
"  You  enlisted  to  serve  Miss  Calhoun.  It  is  for  her  to 
command  you  while  you  are  here.  May  God  be  with 
you  to  the  end.  Miss  Calhoun,  will  you  tell  him 
what  his  duties  are  for  to-night?  Come,  my  dear." 

Yetive  and  Dagmar  walked  slowly  from  the  room, 
leaving  Beverly  and  her  guard  alone. 

"  I  am  at  your  service,  Miss  Calhoun,"  he  said 
easily.  His  apparent  indifference  stung  her  into 
womanly  revolt. 

"  I  was  a  fool  last  night,"  she  said   abruptly. 

"  No ;  I  Avas  the  fool.  I  have  been  the  fool  from 
the  beginning.  You  shall  not  blame  yourself,  for  I 
do  not  blame  you.  It  has  been  a  sweet  comedy,  a 
summer  pastime.  Forget  what  I  may  have  said  to 
you  last  night,  forget  what  my  eyes  may  have  said 
for  weeks  and  weeks." 

"  I  shall  never  forget,"  said  she.  "  You  deserve 
the  best  in  the  world.  Would  that  I  could  give  it  to 
you.  You  have  braved  many  dangers  for  my  sake. 
I  shall  not  forget.  Do  you  know  that  we  were 
watched  last  night  ?  " 

"  Watched  ?  "  he  cried  incredulously.  "  Oh,  fool 
that  I  am !  I  might  have  known.  And  I  have  sub- 
j  ectcd  you  to  —  to  —  don't  tell  me  that  harsh  things 
have  been  said  to  you,  Miss  Calhoun ! "  He  was 
deeply  disturbed. 

"  General  Marlanx  saw  you.  He  has  threatened 
me,  Baldos, " 


268       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  I  will  kill  him !  What  do  I  care  for  the  conse 
quences  ?  He  shall  pay  dearly  for  — 

"  Stop !  Where  are  you  going  ?  You  are  to  re 
main  here,  sir,  and  take  your  commands  from  me.  I 
don't  want  you  to  kill  him.  They'd  hang  you  or 
something  just  as  bad.  He's  going  to  be  punished, 
never  fear ! "  Baldos  smiled  in  spite  of  his  dismay. 
It  wras  impossible  to  face  this  confident  young  cham 
pion  in  petticoats  without  catching  her  enthusiasm. 
"What  have  you  done  with  —  with  that  rose?"  she 
asked  suddenly,  flushing  and  diffident.  Her  eyes 
glistened  with  embarrassment. 

"  It  lies  next  my  heart.     I  love  it,"  he  said  bravely. 

"  I  think  I'll  command  you  to  return  it  to  me," 
vaguely. 

"  A  command  to  be  disobeyed.  It  is  in  exchange 
for  my  feather,"  he  smiled  confidently. 

"  Well,  of  course,  if  you  are  going  to  be  mean 
about  —  Now,  let  me  sec,"  she  said  confusedly ; 
"  what  are  your  duties  for  to-night?  You  arc  to 
stand  guard  in  the  corridor.  Once  in  awhile  you  will 
go  out  upon  the  balcony  and  take  a  look.  You  see,  I 
am  afraid  of  someone.  Oh,  Baldos,  what's  the  use 
of  my  trifling  like  this?  You  are  to  escape  from 
Edelweiss  to-night.  That  is  the  whole  plan  —  the 
whole  idea  in  a  nutshell.  Don't  look  like  that.  Don't 
you  want  to  go  ?  "  Now  she  was  trembling  with  ex 
citement. 

"  I  do  not  want  to  leave  you,"  he  cried  eagerly. 
"  It  would  be  cowardly.  Marlanx  would  understand 
that  you  gave  aid  and  sanction.  You  would  be  left  to 


A    SHOT    IN    THE    DARKNESS     269 

face  the  charges  he  would  make.  Don't  you  see, 
Beverly?  You  would  be  implicated  —  you  would  be 
accused.  Why  did  you  not  let  me  kill  him?  No;  I 
will  not  go ! "  Neither  noticed  the  name  by  which 
he  had  called  her. 

"  But  I  insist,"  she  cried  weakly.  "  You  must  go 
away  from  me.  I  —  I  command  you  to  — 

"  Is  it  because  you  want  to  drive  me  out  of  your 
life  forever?"  he  demanded,  sudden  understanding 
coming  to  him. 

"  Don't  put  it  that  way,"  she  murmured. 

"  Is  it  because  you  care  for  me  that  you  want  me 
to  go?  "  he  insisted,  drawing  near.  "  Is  it  because 
you  fear  the  love  I  bear  for  you  ?  " 

"Love?  You  don't  really  —  Stop!  Remember 
where  you  are,  sir!  You  must  not  go  on  with  it, 
Baldos.  Don't  come  a  step  nearer.  Do  go  to-night ! 
It  is  for  the  best.  I  have  been  awfully  wicked  in  let 
ting  it  run  on  as  it  has.  Forgive  me,  please  forgive 
me,"  she  pleaded.  He  drew  back,  pale  and  hurt.  A 
great  dignity  settled  upon  his  face.  His  dark  eyes 
crushed  her  with  their  quiet  scorn. 

"  I  understand,  Miss  Calhoun.  The  play  is  over. 
You  will  find  the  luckless  vagabond  a  gentleman, 
after  all.  You  ask  me  to  desert  the  cause  I  serve. 
That  is  enough.  I  shall  go  to-night." 

The  girl  was  near  to  surrender.  Had  it  not  been 
for  the  persistent  fear  that  her  proud  old  father  might 
suffer  from  her  wilfulness,  she  would  have  thrown 
down  the  barrier  and  risked  everything  in  the  choice. 


270       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Her  heart  was  crying  out  hungrily  for  the  love  of 
this  tall,  mysterious  soldier  of  fortune. 

"  It  is  best,"  she  murmured  finally.  Later  on  she 
was  to  know  the  meaning  of  the  peculiar  smile  he 
gave  her. 

"  I  go  because  you  dismiss  me,  not  because  I  fear 
an  enemy.  If  you  choose  to  remember  me  at  all, 
be  just  enough  to  believe  that  I  am  not  a  shameless 
coward." 

"  You  are  brave  and  true  and  good,  and  I  am  a  mis 
erable,  deceitful  wretch,"  she  lamented.  "  You  will 
seek  Ravone  and  the  others  ?  " 

"  Yes.  They  are  my  friends.  They  love  my  pov 
erty.  And  now,  may  it  please  your  highness,  when 
am  I  to  go  forth  and  in  what  garb?  I  should  no 
longer  wear  the  honest  uniform  of  a  Graustark 
guard." 

"  Leave  it  to  me.  Everything  shall  be  arranged. 
You  will  be  discreet?  No  one  is  to  know  that  I  am 
your  —  " 

"  Rest  assured,  Miss  Calhoun.  I  have  a  close, 
mouth,"  and  he  smiled  contemptuously. 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  she  regretfully.  "  You 
know  how  to  hold  your  tongue.*'  He  laughed 
harshly.  "  For  once  in  a  way,  will  you  answer  a 
question  ?  " 

"  I  will  not  promise." 

"  You  say  that  you  are  Dantan's  friend.  Is  it 
true  that  he  is  to  marry  the  daughter  of  the  Duke  of 
Matz,  Countess  lolanda  ?  " 

"  It  has  been  so  reported." 


A    SHOT    IX    THE    DARKNESS     271 

"Is  she  beautiful?" 

"  Yes :  exceedingly." 

"  But  is  he  to  marry  her?  "  she  insisted,  she  knew 
not  why. 

*'  How  should  I  know,  your  highness?" 

"  If  you  call  me  *  your  highness  '  again  I'll  despise 
you,"  she  flared  miserably.  i;  Another  question.  Is 
it  true  that  the  young  Duke  Christobal  fled  because 
his  father  objected  to  his  marriage  with  a  game- 
•warden's  daughter?  " 

''  I  have  never  heard  so,"  with  a  touch  of  hauteur. 

"  Does  he  know  that  the  girl  is  dead?  "  she  asked 
cruelly.  Baldos  did  not  answer  for  a  long  time.  He 
stared  at  her  steadily,  his  eyes  expressing  no  emotion 
from  which  she  could  judge  him. 

"  I  think  he  is  ignorant  of  that  calamity,  Miss 
Calhoun.*'  he  said.  "  With  your  permission,  I  shall 
withdraw.  There  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  delay." 
It  was  such  a  palpable  affront  that  she  shrank  within 
herself  and  could  have  cried. 

Without  answering,  she  walked  unsteadily  to  the 
window  and  looked  out  into  the  night.  A  mist  came 
into  her  eyes.  For  many  minutes  she  remained  there. 
striving  to  regain  control  of  her  emotions.  All  this 
time  she  knew  that  he  was  standing  just  where  she 
had  left  him,  like  a  statue,  awaiting  her  command. 
At  last  she  faced  him  resolutely. 

"  You  will  receive  instructions  as  to  your  duties 
here  from  the  guard  at  the  stairs.  When  you  hear 
the  hall  clock  strike  the  hour  of  two  in  the  morning 
go  into  the  chapel,  but  do  not  let  anyone  see  you  or 


272        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

suspect.  You  know  where  it  is.  The  door  will  be 
unlocked." 

"  Am  I  not  to  see  you  again  ?  "  he  asked,  and  she 
did  not  think  him  properly  depressed. 

"  Yes,"  she  answered,  after  a  pause  that  seemed 
like  an  eternity,  and  he  went  quietly,  silently  away. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


BENEATH  THE  GROUND 


HILE  Baldos  was  standing  guard  in 
the  long,  lofty  hallway  the  Iron 
Count  was  busy  with  the  machina 
tions  which  were  calculated  to  result 
a  startling  upheaval  with  the 


in 


break  of  a  new  day.  He  prepared 
and  swore  to  the  charges  preferred  against  Baldos 
They  were  despatched  to  the  princess  for  her  perusal 
in  the  morning.  Then  he  set  about  preparing  the 
vilest  accusations  against  Beverly  Calhoun.  In  his 
own  handwriting  and  over  his  own  signature  he 
charged  her  with  complicity  in  the  betrayal  of  Grau- 
stark,  influenced  by  the  desires  of  the  lover  who  mas 
queraded  as  her  protege.  At  some  length  he  dwelt 
upon  the  well-laid  plot  of  the  spy  and  his  accomplice. 
He  told  of  their  secret  meetings,  their  outrages 
against  the  dignity  of  tin.  court,  and  their  unmistak 
able  animosity  toward  Graustark.  For  each  and 
every  count  in  his  vicious  indictment  against  the  girl 
he  professed  to  have  absolute  proof  by  means  of  more 
than  one  reputable  witness. 

It  was  not  the  design  of  Marlanx  to  present  this 
document  to  the  princess  and  her  cabinet.     He  knew 

273 


274        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

full  well  that  it  would  meet  the  fate  it  deserved.  It 
was  intended  for  the  eyes  of  Beverly  Calhoun  alone. 
By  means  of  the  vile  accusations,  false  though  they 
were,  he  hoped  to  terrorize  her  into  submission. 
He  longed  to  possess  this  lithe,  beautiful  creature 
from  over  the  sea.  In  all  his  life  he  had  not  hungered 
for  anything  as  he  now  craved  Beverly  Calhoun.  He 
saw  that  his  position  in  the  army  was  rendered  inse 
cure  by  the  events  of  the  last  day.  A  bold,  vicious 
stroke  was  his  only  means  for  securing  the  prize  he 
longed  for  more  than  he  longed  for  honor  and  fame. 

Restless  and  enraged,  consumed  by  jealousy  and 
fear,  he  hung  about  the  castle  grounds  long  after  he 
had  drawn  the  diabolical  charges.  He  knew  that 
Baldos  was  inside  the  castle,  favored,  while  he,  a 
noble  of  the  realm,  was  relegated  to  ignominy  and  the 
promise  of  degradation.  Encamped  outside  the  city 
walls  the  army  lay  without  a  leader.  Each  hour  saw 
the  numbers  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  reserves 
from  the  districts  of  the  principality.  His  place  was 
out  there  with  the  staff.  Yet  he  could  not  drag  him 
self  away  from  the  charmed  circle  in  which  his  prey 
was  sleeping.  Morose  and  grim,  he  anxiously  paced 
to  and  fro  in  an  obscure  corner  of  the  grounds. 

"  What  keeps  the  scoundrel  ?  "  he  said  to  himself 
angrily. 

Presently,  a  villainous  looking  man  dressed  in  the 
uniform  of  the  guards,  stealthily  approached.  "  I 
missed  him,  general,  but  I  will  get  him  the  next  time," 
growled  the  man. 

"  Curse  you  for  a  fool ! "  hissed  Marlanx  through 


BENEATH    THE    GROUND  275 

his  teeth.  As  another  hireling  came  up.  "  What 
have  you  got  to  say  ?  " 

The  man  reported  that  Baldos  had  been  seen  on 
the  balcony  alone,  evidently  on  watch. 

Marlanx  ground  his  teeth  and  his  blood  stormed  his 
reason.  "  The  job  must  be  done  to-night.  You  have 
your  instructions.  Capture  him  if  possible;  but  if 
necessary,  kill  him.  You  know  your  fate,  if  you 
fail."  Marlanx  actually  grinned  at  the  thought  of 
the  punishment  he  would  mete  out  to  them.  "  Now 
be  off!" 

Rashly  he  made  his  way  to  the  castle  front.  A 
bright  moon  cast  its  mellow  glow  over  the  mass  of 
stone  outlined  against  the  western  sky.  For  an  hour 
he  glowered  in  the  shade  of  the  trees,  giving  but  slight 
heed  to  the  guards  who  passed  from  time  to  time. 
His  eyes  never  left  the  enchanted  balcony. 

At  last  he  saw  the  man.  Baldos  came  from  the 
door  at  the  end  of  the  balcony,  paced  the  full  length 
in  the  moonlight,  paused  for  a  moment  near  Beverly 
Calhoun's  window  and  then  disappeared  through  the 
same  door  that  had  afforded  him  egress. 

Inside  the  dark  castle  the  clock  at  the  end  of  the 
hall  melodiously  boomed  the  hour  of  two.  Dead 
quiet  followed  the  soft  echoes  of  the  gong.  A  tall 
figure  stealthily  opened  the  door  to  Yetive's  chapel 
and  stepped  inside.  There  was  a  streak  of  mooii' 
light  through  the  clear  window  at  the  far  end  of  the 
room.  Baldos,  his  heart  beating  rapidly,  stood  still 
for  a  moment,  awaiting  the  next  move  in  the  game. 
The  ghost-like  figure  of  a  woman  suddenly  stood 


276       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

before  him  in  the  path  of  the  moonbeam,  a  hooded 
figure  in  dark  robes.  He  started  as  if  confronted 
by  the  supernatural. 

"  Come,"  came  in  an  agitated  whisper,  and  he 
stepped  to  the  side  of  the  phantom.  She  turned  and 
the  moonlight  fell  upon  the  face  of  Beverly  Calhoun. 
"  Don't  speak.  Follow  me  as  quickly  as  you  can." 

He  grasped  her  arm,  bringing  her  to  a  standstill. 

"  I  have  changed  my  mind,"  he  whispered  in  her 
ear.  "  Do  you  think  I  will  run  away  and  leave  you 
to  shoulder  the  blame  for  all  this?  On  the  balcony 
near  your  window  an  hour  ago  I  — 

"  It  doesn't  make  any  difference,"  she  argued. 
"  You  have  to  go.  I  want  you  to  go.  If  you  knew 
just  how  I  feel  toward  you  you  would  go  without  a 
murmur." 

"  You  mean  that  you  hate  me,"  he  groaned. 

"  I  wouldn't  be  so  unkind  as  to  say  that,"  she 
fluttered.  "  I  don't  know  who  you  are.  Come ;  we 
can't  delay  a  minute.  I  have  a  key  to  the  gate  at 
the  other  end  of  the  passage  and  I  know  where  the 
secret  panel  is  located.  Hush!  It  doesn't  matter 
where  I  got  the  key.  See !  See  how  easy  it  is  ?  " 

He  felt  her  tense  little  fingers  in  the  darkness 
searching  for  his.  Their  hands  were  icy  cold  when  the 
clasp  came.  Together  they  stood  in  a  niche  of  the 
wall  near  the  chancel  rail.  It  was  dark  and  a  cold 
draft  of  air  blew  across  their  faces.  He  could  not 
see,  but  there  was  proof  enough  that  she  had  opened 
the  secret  panel  in  the  wall,  and  that  the  damp,  chill 


BENEATH    THE    GROUND  277 

% 

air  came  from  the  underground  passage,  which  led  to 
a  point  outside  the  city  walls. 

"  You  go  first,"  she  whispered  nervously.  "  I'm 
afraid.  There  is  a  lantern  on  the  steps  and  I  have 
some  matches.  We'll  light  it  as  soon  as  —  Oh,  what 
was  that  ?  " 

"  Don't  be  frightened,"  he  said.  "  I  think  it  was 
a  rat." 

"  Good  gracious !  "  she  gasped.  "  I  wouldn't  go 
in  there  for  the  world." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  intended  to  do  so?  " 
he  asked  eagerly. 

"  Certainly.  Someone  has  to  return  the  key  to 
the  outer  gate.  Oh,  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  go  in. 
You'll  keep  them  off,  won't  you?"  plaintively.  He 
was  smiling  in  the  darkness,  thinking  what  a  dear, 
whimsical  thing  she  was. 

"  With  my  life,"  he  said  softly. 

"  They're  ten  times  worse  than  lions,"  she  an 
nounced. 

"  You  must  not  forget  that  you  return  alone,"  he 
said  triumphantly. 

"  But  I'll  have  the  lantern  going  full  blast,"  she 
said,  and  then  allowed  him  to  lead  her  into  the  narrow 
passageway.  She  closed  the  panel  and  then  felt  about 
with  her  foot  until  it  located  the  lantern.  In  a  min 
ute  they  had  a  light.  "  Now,  don't  be  afraid,"  she 
said  encouragingly.  He  laughed  in  pure  delight; 
she  misunderstood  his  mirth  and  was  conscious  of  a 
new  and  nn  almost  unendurable  pang.  He  was  filled 
with  exhilaration  over  the  prospect  of  escape !  Some- 


278       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

how  she  felt  an  impulse  to  throw  her  arms  about  him 
and  drag  him  back  into  the  chapel,  in  spite  of  the 
ghost  of  the  game-warden's  daughter. 

"  What  is  to  prevent  me  from  taking  you  with 
me?"  he  said  intensely,  a  mighty  longing  in  his 
breast.  She  laughed  but  drew  back  uneasily. 

"And  live  unhappily  ever  afterward?"  said  she. 
"Oh,  dear  me!  Isn't  this  a  funny  proceeding? 
Just  think  of  me,  Beverly  Calhoun,  being  mixed  up 
in  schemes  and  plots  and  intrigues  and  all  that.  It 
seems  like  a  great  big  dream.  And  that  reminds 
me :  you  will  find  a  raincoat  at  the  foot  of  the  steps. 
I  couldn't  get  other  clothes  for  you,  so  you'll  have  to 
wear  the  uniform.  There's  a  stiff  hat  of  Mr.  Lorry's 
also.  You've  no  idea  how  difficult  it  is  for  a  girl  to 
collect  clothes  for  a  man.  There  doesn't  seem  to  be 
any  real  excuse  for  it,  you  know.  Goodness,  it  looks 
black  ahead  there,  doesn't  it?  I  hate  underground 
things.  They're  so  damp  and  all  that.  How  far  is 
it,  do  you  suppose,  to  the  door  in  the  wall?  "  She  was 
chattering  on,  simply  to  keep  up  her  courage  and  to 
make  her  fairest  show  of  composure. 

"  It's  a  little  more  than  three  hundred  }rards,"  he 
replied.  They  were  advancing  through  the  low,  nar 
row  stone-lined  passage.  She  steadfastly  ignored 
the  hand  he  held  back  for  support.  It  was  not  a 
pleasant  place,  this  underground  way  to  the  outside 
world.  The  walls  were  damp  and  mouldy ;  the  odor 
of  the  rank  earth  assailed  the  nostrils;  the  air  was 
chill  and  deathlike. 

"  How  do  you  know?  "  she  demanded  quickly. 


BENEATH    THE    GROUND  279 

"  I  have  traversed  the  passage  before,  Miss  Cal- 
houn,"  he  replied.  She  stopped  like  one  paralyzed, 
her  eyes  wide  and  incredulous.  "  Franz  was  my 
guide  from  the  outer  gate  into  the  chapel.  It  is  easy 
enough  to  get  outside  the  walls,  but  extremely  difficult 
to  return,"  he  went  on  easily. 

"  You  mean  to  say  that  you  have  been  in  and  out 
by  way  of  this  passage?  Then,  what  was  your 
object,  sir?  "  she  demanded  sternly. 

"  My  desire  to  communicate  with  friends  who  could 
not  enter  the  city.  Will  it  interest  you  if  I  say  that 
the  particular  object  of  my  concern  was  a  young 
woman?  " 

She  gasped  and  was  stubbornly  silent  for  a  long 
time.  Bitter  resentment  filled  her  soul,  bitter  disap 
pointment  in  this  young  man.  "  A  young  woman !  " 
he  had  said,  oh,  so  insolently.  There  could  be  but  one 
inference,  one  conclusion.  The  realization  of  it  set 
tled  one  point  in  her  mind  forever. 

"  It  wouldn't  interest  me  in  the  least.  I  don't 
even  care  who  she  was.  Permit  me  to  wish  you  much 
joy  with  her.  Why  don't  you  go  on?"  irritably, 
forgetting  that  it  was  she  who  delayed  progress. 
His  smile  was  invisible  in  the  blackness  above  the 
lantern.  There  were  no  words  spoken  until  after  they 
had  reached  the  little  door  in  the  wall. 

Here  the  passage  was  wider.  There  were  casks  and 
chests  on  the  floor,  evidently  containing  articles  that 
required  instant  removal  from  Edelweiss  in  case  of 
an  emergency. 


280       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Who  was  that  woman  ?  "  she  asked  at  last.  The 
key  to  the  door  was  in  the  nervous  little  hand. 

"  One  very  near  and  dear  to  me,  Miss  Calhoun. 
That's  all  I  can  say  at  this  time." 

"  Well,  this  is  the  only  time  you  will  have  the 
chance,"  she  cried  loftily.  "  Here  we  part. 
Hush ! "  she  whispered,  involuntarily  grasping  his 
arm.  "  I  think  I  heard  a  step.  Can  anyone  be  follow 
ing  us?"  They  stopped  and  listened.  It  was  as 
still  as  a  tomb. 

"  It  must  be  the  same  old  rat,"  he  answered  jok 
ingly.  She  wras  too  nervous  for  any  pleasantries,  and 
releasing  her  hold  on  his  arm,  said  timidly,  "  Good 
bye!" 

"  Am  I  to  go  in  this  manner?  Have  you  no  kind 
word  for  me?  I  love  you  better  than  my  soul.  It  is 
of  small  consequence  to  you,  I  know,  but  I  crave  one 
forgiving  word.  It  may  be  the  last."  He  clasped 
her  hand  and  she  did  not  withdraw  it.  Her  lips  were 
trembling,  but  her  eyes  were  brave  and  obstinate. 
Suddenly  she  sat  down  upon  one  of  the  chests.  If  he 
had  not  told  her  of  the  other  woman ! 

"  Forgive  me  instead,  for  all  that  I  have  brought 
you  to,"  she  murmured.  "  It  was  all  my  fault.  I 
shall  never  forget  you  or  forgive  myself.  I  —  I  am 
going  back  to  Washin'ton  immediately.  I  can't  bear 
to  stay  here  now.  Good-bye,  and  God  bless  you.  Do 
—  do  you  think  we  shall  ever  see  each  other  again  ?  " 
Unconsciously  she  was  clinging  to  his  hand.  There 
^ere  tears  in  the  gray  eyes  that  looked  pathetically 
up  into  his.  She  was  very  dear  and  enchanting, 


BENEATH    THE    GROUND  281 

down  there  in  the  grewsome  passageway  with  the  fitful 
rays  of  the  lantern  lighting  her  face.  Only  the 
strictest  self-control  kept  him  from  seizing  her  in  his 
arms,  for  something  told  him  that  she  would  have  sur 
rendered. 

"  This  is  the  end,  I  fear,"  he  said,  with  grim  per 
sistence.  She  caught  her  breath  in  half  a  sob.  Then 
she  arose  resolutely,  although  her  knees  trembled 
shamelessly. 

"  Well,  then,  good-bye,"  she  said  very  steadily. 
"  You  are  free  to  go  where  and  to  whom  you  like. 
Think  of  me  once  in  awhile,  Baldos.  Here's  the  key. 
Hurry  !  I  —  I  can't  stand  it  much  longer !  "  She 
was  ready  to  break  down  and  he  saw  it,  but  he  made 
no  sign. 

Turning  the  key  in  the  rusty  lock,  he  cautiously 
opened  the  door.  The  moonlit  world  lay  beyond.  A 
warm,  intoxicating  breath  of  fresh  air  came  in  upon 
them.  He  suddenly  stooped  and  kissed  her  hand. 

"  Forgive  me  for  having  annoyed  you  with  my  poor 
love,"  lie  said,  as  he  stood  in  the  door,  looking  into 
the  night  beyond. 

"  All  —  —  all  right,"  she  choked  out  as  she  started 
to  close  the  door  after  him. 

"  Halt !     You  are  our  prisoner !  " 

The  words  rang  out  sharply  in  the  silence  of  the 
night.  Instinctively,  Beverly  made  an  attempt  to 
close  the  door ;  but  she  was  too  late.  Two  burly,  vil 
lainous  looking  men,  sword  in  hand,  blocked  the  exit 
and  advanced  upon  them. 


282       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Back !  Back ! "  Baldos  sliouted  to  Beverly, 
drawing  his  sword. 

Like  a  flash,  she  picked  up  the  lantern  and  sprang 
out  of  his  way.  Capture  or  worse  seemed  certain ; 
but  her  heart  did  not  fail  her. 

"  Put  up  your  sword !  You  are  under  arrest ! " 
came  from  the  foremost  of  the  two.  He  had  heard 
enough  of  Baldos's  skill  with  the  sword  to  hope  that 
the  ruse  might  be  successful  and  that  he  would  sur 
render  peaceably  to  numbers.  The  men's  instructions 
were  to  take  their  quarry  alive  if  possible.  The  re 
ward  for  the  man,  living,  exceeded  that  for  him  dead. 

Baldos  instantly  recognized  them  as  spies  em 
ployed  by  Marlanx.  They  had  been  dogging  his 
footsteps  for  days  and  even  had  tried  to  murder  him. 
The  desire  for  vengeance  was  working  like  madness  in 
his  blood.  He  was  overjoyed  at  having  them  at  the 
point  of  his  sword.  Beverly's  presence  vouchsafed 
that  he  would  show  little  mercy. 

"  Arrest  me,  you  cowardly  curs ! "  he  exclaimed. 
"Never!"  With  a  spring  to  one  side,  he  quickly 
overturned  one  of  the  casks  and  pushing  it  in  front 
of  him,  it  served  as  a  rolling  bulwark,  preventing  a 
joint  attack. 

"  You  first ! "  he  cried  coolly,  as  his  sword  met 
that  of  the  leader.  The  unhappy  wretch  was  no 
match  for  the  finest  swordsman  in  Graustark.  He 
made  a  few  desperate  attempts  to  ward  off  his  in 
evitable  fate,  calling  loudly  for  his  comrade  to  aid 
him.  The  latter  was  eager  enough,  but  Baldos's 
strategic  roll  of  the  cask  effectively  prevented  him 


BENEATH    THE    GROUND 

from  taking  a  hand.  With  a  vicious  thrust,  the  blade 
of  the  goat-hunter  tore  clean  through  the  man's  chest 
and  touched  the  wall  behind. 

"  One !  "  cried  Baldos,  gloating  in  the  chance  that 
had  come  to  him.  The  man  gasped  and  fell.  He  was 
none  too  quick  in  withdrawing  his  dripping  weapon, 
for  the  second  man  was  over  the  obstacle  and  upon 
him. 


CHAPTER  XXV 


THE  VALOR  OF  THE  SOUTH 


OLD   the   lantern   higher,   Bev 


In  the  fury  of  the  fight,  he  remem 
bered  the  risk  and  importance  of  not 
mentioning  her  name,  and  stopped 
short.  He  was  fighting  fast  but 
warily,  for  he  realized  that  his  present 
adversary  was  no  mean  one.  As  the  swords  played 
back  and  forth  in  fierce  thrusts  and  parries,  he  spoke 
assuringly  to  Beverly  :  "  Don't  be  frightened !  As 
soon  as  I  finish  with  this  fellow,  we  will  go  on !  Ah ! 
Bravo !  Well  parried,  my  man !  How  the  deuce 
could  such  a  swordsman  as  you  become  a  cutthroat 
of  Marknx?" 

Beverly  had  been  standing  still  all  this  time  hold 
ing  the  light  high  above  her  head,  according  to  her 
lover's  orders,  for  she  knew  now  that  such  he  was  and 
that  she  loved  him  with  all  her  heart.  She  was  a 
weird  picture  standing  there  as  she  watched  Baldos 
fighting  for  their  lives,  her  beautiful  face  deathlike 
in  its  pallor.  Not  a  cry  escaped  her  lips,  as  the 
sword-blades  swished  and  clashed ;  she  could  hear  the 
deep  breathing  of  the  combatants  in  that  tomb-like 
passage. 

284 


THE    VALOR    OF    THE    SOUTH    285 

Suddenly  she  started  and  listened  keenly.  From 
behind  her,  back  there  in  the  darkness,  hurried  foot 
steps  were  unmistakably  approaching.  What  she  had 
heard,  then,  was  not  the  scurrying  of  a  rat.  Some 
one  was  following  them.  A  terrible  anguish  seized 
her.  Louder  and  nearer  came  the  heavy  steps.  "  Oh, 
my  God!  Baldos!"  she  screamed  in  terror.  "An 
other  is  coming ! " 

"  Have  no  fear,  dear  one ! "  he  sung  out  gaily. 
His  voice  was  infinitely  more  cheerful  than  he  felt, 
for  he  realized  only  too  well  the  desperate  situation ; 
he  was  penned  in  and  forced  to  meet  an  attack  from 
front  and  rear.  He  fell  upon  his  assailant  with  re 
doubled  fury,  aiming  to  finish  him  before  the  new 
comer  could  give  aid. 

From  out  of  the  gloom  came  a  fiendish  laugh.  In 
stantly,  the  dark  figure  of  a  man  appeared,  his  face 
completely  hidden  by  a  broad  slouch  hat  and  the  long 
cloak  which  enveloped  him.  A  sardonic  voice  hissed, 
*'  Trapped  at  last !  My  lady  and  her  lover  thought 
to  escape,  did  they !  "  The  voice  was  unfamiliar,  but 
the  atmosphere  seemed  charged  with  Marlanx.  "  Kill 
him,  Zem !  "  he  shouted.  "  Don't  let  him  escape  you ! 
I  will  take  care  of  the  little  witch,  never  fear !  "  He 
clutched  at  the  girl  and  tried  to  draw  her  to  him. 

"  Marlanx !  By  all  the  gods ! "  cried  Baldos  in 
despair.  He  had  wounded  his  man  several  times, 
though  not  seriously.  He  dared  not  turn  to  Beverly's 
aid. 

The  scene  was  thrilling,  grewsome.  Within  this 
narrow,  dimly-lighted  underground  passage,  with  its 


28C        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

musty  walls  sweating  with  dampness  and  thick  with 
the  tangled  meshes  of  the  spider's  web,  a  brave  girl 
and  her  lover  struggled  and  fought  back  to  back. 

To  her  dismay,  Beverly  saw  the  point  of  a  sword  at 
her  throat. 

"  Out  of  the  way,  girl,"  the  man  in  the  cloak 
snarled,  furious  at  her  resistance.  "  You  die  as  well 
as  your  lover  unless  you  surrender.  He  cannot 
escape  me." 

"  And  if"  I  refuse,"  cried  the  girl,  trying  desper 
ately  to  gain  time. 

"  I  will  drive  my  blade  through  your  heart  and  tell 
the  world  it  was  the  deed  of  your  lover." 

Baldos  groaned.  His  adversary,  encouraged  by 
the  change  in  the  situation,  pressed  him  sorely. 

"  Don't  you  dare  to  touch  me,  Count  Marlanx.  I 
know  you ! "  she  hissed.  "  I  know  what  you  would 
do  with  me.  It  is  not  for  Graustark  that  you  seek  his 
life." 

The  sword  came  nearer.  The  words  died  in  her 
throat.  She  grew  faint.  Terror  paralyzed  her. 
Suddenly,  her  heart  gave  a  great  thump  of  j  oy .  The 
resourcefulness  of  the  trapped  was  surging  to  her 
relief.  The  valor  of  the  South  leaped  into  life.  The 
exhilaration  of  conflict  beat  down  all  her  fears. 
"  Take  away  that  sword,  then,  please,"  she  cried,  her 
voice  trembling,  but  not  with  terror  now;  it  was 
exultation.  "  Will  you  promise  to  spare  his  life? 
Will  you  swear  to  let  him  go,  if  I " 

"  No,  no,  never !     God  forbid !  "  implored  Baldos. 

"  Ha,  ha !  "  chuckled  the  man  in  the  cloak.    "  Spare 


THE    VALOR    OF    THE    SOUTH    287 

his  life !  Oh,  yes ;  after  my  master  has  revelled  in  your 
charms.  How  do  you  like  that,  my  handsome  goat- 
hunter?" 

"  You  infernal  scoundrel !  I'll  settle  you  yet !  " 
Baldos  fairly  fumed  with  rage.  Gathering  himself 
together  for  a  final  effort,  he  rushed  madly  on  his 
rapidly-weakening  antagonist. 

"  Baldos ! "  she  cried  hopelessly  and  in  a  tone  of 
resignation.  "  I  must  do  it !  It  is  the  only  way !  " 

The  man  in  the  cloak  as  well  as  Baldos  was  deceived 
by  the  girl's  cry.  He  immediately  lowered  his  sword. 
The  lantern  dropped  from  Beverly's  hands  and  clat 
tered  to  the  floor.  At  the  same  instant  she  drew  from 
her  pocket  her  revolver,  which  she  had  placed  there 
before  leaving  the  castle,  and  fired  point  blank  at  him. 
The  report  sounded  like  a  thunder  clap  in  their  ears. 
It  was  followed  quickly  by  a  sharp  cry  and  impreca 
tion  from  the  lips  of  her  persecutor,  who  fell,  strik 
ing  his  head  with  a  terrible  force  on  the  stones. 

Simultaneously,  there  was  a  groan  and  the  noise 
of  a  limp  body  slipping  to  the  ground,  and,  Baldos, 
victor  at  last,  turned  in  fear  and  trembling  to  find 
Beverly  standing  unhurt  staring  at  the  black  mass 
at  her  feet. 

"  Thank  God !  You  are  safe !  "  Grasping  her 
hand  he  led  her  out  of  the  darkness  into  the  moon 
light. 

Not  a  word  was  spoken  as  they  ran  swiftly  on 
until  they  reached  a  little  clump  of  trees,  not  far 
from  one  of  the  gates.  Here  Baldos  gently  released 
her  hand.  She  was  panting  for  breath;  but  he  re- 


288       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

alized  she  must  not  be  allowed  to  risk  a  moment's 
delay.  She  must  pass  the  sentry  at  once. 

"  Have  you  the  watchword?  "  he  eagerly  asked. 

"Watchword?"  she  repeated  feebly. 

"  Yes,  the  countersign  for  the  night.  It  is  Gan- 
look.  Keep  your  face  well  covered  with  your  hood. 
Advance  boldly  to  the  gates  and  give  the  word. 
There  will  be  no  trouble.  The  guard  is  used  to 
pleasure  seekers  returning  at  all  hours  of  night." 

"Is  he  dead?"  she  asked  timorously,  returning 
to  the  scene  of  horror. 

"  Only  wounded,  I  think,  as  are  the  other  men, 
though  they  all  deserve  death." 

He  went  with  her  as  close  to  the  gate  as  he  thought 
safe.  Taking  her  hand  he  kissed  it  fervently. 
"  Good-bye !  It  won't  be  for  long ! "  and  disap 
peared. 

She  stood  still  and  lifeless,  staring  after  him,  for 
ages,  it  seemed.  He  was  gone.  Gone  forever,  no 
doubt.  Her  eyes  grew  wilder  and  wilder  with  the  pity 
of  it  all.  Pride  fled  incontinently.  She  longed  to 
call  him  back.  Then  it  occurred  to  her  that  he  was 
hurrying  off  to  that  other  woman.  No,  he  said  he 
would  return.  She  must  be  brave,  true  to  herself, 
whatever  happened.  She  marched  boldly  up  to  the 
gate,  gave  the  countersign  and  passed  through,  not 
heeding  the  curious  glances  cast  upon  her  by  the 
sentry;  turned  into  the  castle,  up  the  grand  stair 
case,  and  fled  to  the  princess's  bed-chamber. 

Beverly,  trembling  and  sobbing,  threw  herself  in 


THE    VALOR    OF    THE    SOUTH    289 

the  arms  of  the  princess.  Incoherently,  she  related 
all  that  had  happened,  then  swooned. 

After  she  had  been  restored,  the  promise  of  Yetive 
to  protect  her,  whatever  happened,  comforted  her 
somewhat. 

"  It  must  have  been  Marlanx,"  moaned  Beverly. 

"  Who  else  could  it  have  been?  "  replied  the  prin 
cess,  who  was  visibly  excited. 

Summoning  all  her  courage,  she  went  on :  "  First, 
we  must  find  out  if  he  is  badly  hurt.  We'll  trust 
to  luck.  Cheer  up ! "  She  touched  a  bell.  There 
came  a  knock  at  the  door.  A  guard  was  told  to 
enter.  "  Ellos,"  she  exclaimed,  "  did  you  hear  a 
shot  fired  a  short  time  ago?  " 

"  I  thought  I  did,  your  highness,  but  was  not 
sure." 

"  Baldos,  the  guard,  was  escaping  by  the  secret 
passage,"  continued  the  princess,  a  wonderful  inspira 
tion  coming  to  her  rescue.  "  He  passed  through  the 
chapel.  Miss  Calhoun  was  there.  Alone,  and  single- 
handed,  she  tried  to  prevent  him.  It  was  her  duty. 
He  refused  to  obey  her  command  to  stop  and  she 
followed  him  into  the  tunnel  and  fired  at  him.  I'm 
afraid  you  are  too  late  to  capture  him,  but  you 
may ,  Oh,  Beverly,  how  plucky  you  were  to  fol 
low  him !  Go  quickly,  Ellos !  Search  the  tunnel  and 
report  at  once."  As  the  guard  saluted,  with  wonder, 
admiration  and  unbelief,  he  saw  the  two  conspirators 
locked  in  each  other's  arms. 

Presently  he  returned  and  reported  that  the 
guards  could  find  no  trace  of  anyone  in  the  tunnel, 


290       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

but  that  they  found  blood  on  the  floor  near  the  exit 
and  that  the  door  was  wide  open. 

The  two  girls  looked  at  each  other  in  amazement. 
They  were  dumbfounded,  but  a  great  relief  was  glow 
ing  in  their  eyes. 

"  Ellos,"  inquired  the  princess,  considerably  less 
agitated,  "  does  any  one  else  know  of  this?  " 

"  No,  your  highness,  there  was  no  one  on  guard 
but  Max,  Baldos,  and  myself." 

"  Well,  for  the  present,  no  one  else  must  know 
of  his  flight.  Do  you  understand?  Not  a  word  to 
any  one.  I,  myself,  will  explain  when  the  proper  time 
comes.  You  and  Max  have  been  very  careless,  but  I 
suppose  you  should  not  be  punished.  He  has  tricked 
us  all.  Send  Max  to  me  at  once." 

"  Yes,  your  highness,"  said  Ellos,  and  he  went  away 
with  his  head  swimming.  Max,  the  other  guard,  re 
ceived  like  orders  and  then  the  two  young  women 
sank  limply  upon  a  divan. 

"  Oh,  how  clever  you  are,  Yetive,"  came  from  the 
American  girl.  "  But  what  next?  " 

"  We  may  expect  to  hear  something  disagreeable 
from  Count  Marlanx,  my  dear,"  murmured  the  per 
plexed,  but  confident  princess,  "  but  I  think  we  have 
the  game  in  our  own  hands,  as  you  would  say  in 
America." 


THE    DEGRADATION    OF   MARLANX 

UNT  FANNY,  what  is  that  white 
thing  sticking  under  the  window? " 
demanded  Beverly  late  the  next  morn 
ing.  She  was  sitting  with  her  face 
to  the  windows  while  the  old  negress 
dressed  her  hair. 

"  Looks  lak  a  love  letteh,  Miss  Bev'ly,"  was  the 
answer,  as  Aunt  Fanny  gingerly  placed  an  envelope 
in  her  mistress's  hand.  Beverly  looked  at  it  in  amaze 
ment.  It  was  unmistakably  a  letter,  addressed  to  her, 
which  had  been  left  at  her  window  some  time  in  the 
night.  Her  heart  gave  a  thump  and  she  went  red 
with  anticipated  pleasure.  With  eager  fingers  she  tore 
open  the  envelope.  The  first  glance  at  the  contents 
brought  disappointment  to  her  face.  The  missive 
was  from  Count  Marlanx;  but  it  was  a  relief  to  find 
that  he  was  very  much  alive  and  kicking.  As  she 
read  on,  there  came  a  look  of  perplexity  which  was 
succeeded  by  burning  indignation.  The  man  in  the 
cloak  was  preparing  to  strike. 

"  Your  secret  is  mine.  I  know  all  that  happened  in  the 
chapel  and  underground  passage.  You  have  betrayed  Grau- 
stclrk  in  aiding  this  man  to  escape.  The  plot  was  cleverly 

291 


292        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

executed,  but  you  counted  without  the  jealous  eye  of  love. 
You  can  save  yourself  and  your  honor,  and  perhaps  your 
princess,  but  the  conditions  are  mine.  This  time  there  can 
be  no  trifling.  I  want  you  to  treat  me  fairly.  God  help  you 
if  you  refuse.  Give  me  the  answer  I  want  and  your  secret 
is  safe.  I  will  shield  you  with  my  life.  At  eleven  o'clock  I 
shall  come  to  see  you.  I  have  in  my  possession  a  document 
that  will  influence  you.  You  will  do  well  to  keep  a  close 
mouth  until  you  have  seen  this  paper." 

This  alarming  note  was  all  that  was  needed  to  re 
store  fire  to  the  lagging  blood  of  the  American  girl. 
Its  effect  was  decidedly  contrary  to  that  which  Mar- 
lanx  must  have  anticipated.  Instead  of  collapsing, 
Beverly  sprang  to  her  feet  with  energy  and  life  in 
every  fiber.  Her  eyes  were  flashing  brightly,  her 
body  quivering  with  the  sensations  of  battle. 

"  That  awful  old  wretch ! "  she  cried,  to  Aunt 
Fanny's  amazement.  "  He  is  the  meanest  human  be 
ing  in  all  the  world.  But  he's  making  the  mistake  of 
his  life,  isn't  he,  Aunt  Fanny?  Oh,  of  course  you 
don't  know  what  it  is,  so  never  mind.  We've  got  a 
surprise  for  him.  I'll  see  him  at  eleven  o'clock,  and 
then  —  "  she  smiled  quite  benignly  at  the  thought 
of  what  she  was  going  to  say  to  him.  Beverly  felt 
very  secure  in  the  shadow  of  the  princess. 

A  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  parade-ground 
drew  her  to  the  balcony.  What  she  saw  brought  joy 
to  her  heart.  Lorry  and  Anguish,  muddy  and  dis 
heveled,  were  dismounting  before  the  castle. 

"  Ah,  this  is  joy !  Now  there  are  three  good  Ameri 
cans  here.  I'm  not  afraid,"  she  said  bravely.  Aunt 
Fanny  nodded  her  head  in  approval,  although  she  did 
not  know  what  it  was  all  about.  Curiosity  more  than 
alarm  made  Beverly  eager  to  see  the  document  which 


DEGRADATION    OF    MARLANX    293 

old  Marlanx  held  in  reserve  for  her.  She  determined 
to  met  him  at  eleven. 

A  message  from  the  princess  announced  the  unex 
pected  return  of  the  two  Americans.  She  said  they 
were  (to  use  Harry  Anguish's  own  expression) 
"  beastly  near  starvation  "  and  clamored  for  substan 
tial  breakfasts.  Beverly  was  urged  to  join  them  and 
to  hear  the  latest  news  from  the  frontier. 

Lorry  and  Anguish  were  full  of  the  excitement  on 
which  they  had  lived  for  many  hours.  They  had 
found  evidence  of  raids  by  the  Dawsbergen  scouts  and 
had  even  caught  sight  of  a  small  band  of  fleeing  horse 
men.  Lorry  reluctantly  admitted  that  Gabriel's  army 
seemed  loyal  to  him  and  that  there  was  small  hope  of  a 
conflict  being  averted,  as  he  had  surmised,  through  the 
defection  of  the  people.  He  was  surprised  but  not 
dismayed  when  Yetive  told  him  certain  portions  of 
the  story  in  regard  to  Marlanx;  and,  by  no  means 
averse  to  seeing  the  old  man  relegated  to  the  back 
ground,  heartily  endorsed  the  step  taken  by  his  wife. 
He  was  fair  enough,  however,  to  promise  the  general 
a  chance  to  speak  in  his  own  defense,  if  he  so  desired. 
He  had  this  in  view  when  he  requested  Marlanx  to 
come  to  the  castle  at  eleven  o'clock  for  consultation. 

"  Gabriel  is  devoting  most  of  his  energy  now  to 
hunting  that  poor  Dantan  into  his  grave,"  said  An 
guish.  "  I  believe  he'd  rather  kill  his  half-brother 
than  conquer  Graustark.  Why,  the  inhuman  mon 
ster  has  set  himself  to  the  task  of  obliterating  every 
thing  that  reminds  him  of  Dantan.  We  learned  from 
spies  down  there  that  he  issued  an  order  for  the  death 


294       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

of  Dantan's  sister,  a  pretty  young  thing  named  Can- 
dace,  because  he  believed  she  was  secretly  aiding  her 
fugitive  brother.  She  escaped  from  the  palace  in 
Serros  a  week  ago,  and  no  one  knows  what  has  become 
of  her.  There's  a  report  that  she  was  actually  killed, 
and  that  the  story  of  her  flight  is  a  mere  blind  on  the 
part  of  Gabriel." 

"  He  would  do  anything,"  cried  Yetive.  "  Poor 
child;  they  say  she  is  like  her  English  mother  and 
is  charming." 

"  That  would  set  Gabriel  against  her,  I  fancy," 
went  on  Anguish.  "  And,  by  the  way,  ASiss  Calhoun, 
we  heard  something  definite  about  your  friend,  Prince 
Dantan.  It  is  pretty  well  settled  that  he  isn't  Baldos 
of  the  guard.  Dantan  was  seen  two  days  ago  by 
Captain  Dangloss's  men.  He  was  in  the  Dawsbergen 
pass  and  they  talked  with  him  and  his  men.  There 
was  no  mistake  this  time.  The  poor,  half-starved 
chap  confessed  to  being  the  prince  and  begged  for 
food  for  himself  and  his  followers." 

"  I  tried  to  find  him,  and,  failing  in  that,  left  word 
in  the  pass  that  if  he  would  but  cast  his  lot  with  us  in 
this  trouble  we  soon  would  restore  him  to  his  throne," 
said  Lorry.  "  He  may  accept  and  we  shall  have  him 
turning  up  here  some  day,  hungry  for  revenge.  And 
now,  my  dear  Beverly,  how  are  you  progressing  with 
the  excellent  Baldos,  of  whom  we  cannot  make  a  prince, 
no  matter  how  hard  we  try  ?  " 

Beverly  and  the  princess  exchanged  glances  in 
which  consternation  was  difficult  to  conceal.  It  was 


DEGRADATION    OF    MARLANX    295 

clear  to  Beverly  that  Yetive  had  not  told  her  husband 
of  the  escape. 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  Baldos,"  she  an 
swered  steadily.  "  Last  night  someone  shot  at  him 
in  the  park." 

"  The  deuce  you  say !  " 

"  In  order  to  protect  him  until  you  returned,  Gren, 
I  had  him  transferred  to  guard  duty  inside  the  castle," 
explained  the  princess.  "  It  really  seemed  necessary. 
General  Marlanx  expects  to  present  formal  charges 
against  him  this  morning,  so  I  suppose  we  shall  have 
to  put  him  in  irons  for  a  little  while.  It  seems  too 
bad,  doesn't  it,  Gren  ?  " 

"  Yes.  He's  as  straight  as  a  string,  I'll  swear." 
said  Lorry  emphatically. 

"  I'll  bet  he  wishes  he  were  safely  out  of  this  place," 
ventured  Anguish,  and  two  young  women  busied  them 
selves  suddenly  with  their  coffee. 

"  The  chance  is  he's  sorry  he  ever  came  into  it," 
said  Lorry  tantalizingly. 

While  they  were  waiting  for  Marlanx  the  young 
Duke  of  Mizrox  was  announced.  The  handsome 
Axphainian  came  with  relief  and  dismay  struggling 
for  mastery  in  his  face. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  said,  after  the  greetings,  "  I 
am  come  to  inform  you  that  Graustark  has  one  prince 
less  to  account  for.  Axphain  has  found  her  fugi 
tive." 

"  When  ?  "  cried  the  princess  and  Beverly  in  one 
voice  and  with  astonishing  eagerness,  not  unmixed 
with  dismay.  » 


296       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Three  days  ago,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Oh,"  came  in  deep  relief  from  Beverly  as  she 
sank  back  into  her  chair.  The  same  fear  had  lodged 
in  the  hearts  of  the  two  fair  conspirators  —  that  they 
had  freed  Baldos  only  to  have  him  fall  into  the  hands 
of  his  deadliest  foes. 

"  I  have  a  message  by  courier  from  my  uncle  in 
Axphain,"  said  Mizrox.  "  He  says  that  Frederic 
was  killed  near  Labbot  by  soldiers,  after  making  a 
gallant  fight,  on  last  Sunday  night.  The  Princess 
Volga  is  rejoicing,  and  has  amply  rewarded  his  slay 
ers.  Poor  Frederic!  He  knew  but  little  happiness 
in  this  life." 

There  was  a  full  minute  of  reflection  before  any 
of  his  hearers  expressed  the  thought  that  had  framed 
itself  in  every  mind. 

"  Well,  since  Dantan  and  Frederic  are  accounted 
for,  Baldos  is  absolutely  obliged  to  be  Christobal," 
said  Anguish  resignedly. 

"  He's  just  Baldos,"  observed  Beverly,  snuffing  out 
the  faint  hope  that  had  lingered  so  long.  Then  she 
said  to  herself :  "  And  I  don't  care,  either.  I  only 
wish  he  were  back  here  again.  I'd  be  a  good  deal 
nicer  to  him." 

Messengers  flew  back  and  forth,  carrying  orders 
from  the  castle  to  various  quarters.  The  ministers 
were  called  to  meet  at  twelve  o'clock.  Underneath 
all  the  bustle  there  was  a  tremendous  impulse  of 
American  cunning,  energy  and  resourcefulness. 
Everyone  caught  the  fever.  Reserved  old  diplomats 
were  overwhelmed  by  their  own  enthusiasm;  custom- 


DEGRADATION    OF    MARLANX    297 

bound  soldiers  forgot  the  hereditary  caution  and  fell 
into  the  ways  of  the  new  leaders  without  a  murmur. 
The  city  was  wild  with  excitement,  for  all  believed 
that  the  war  was  upon  them.  There  was  but  one 
shadow  overhanging  the  glorious  optimism  of  Grau- 
stark  —  the  ugly,  menacing  attitude  of  Axphain. 
Even  the  Duke  of  Mizrox  could  give  no  assurance 
that  his  country  would  remain  neutral. 

Colonel  Quinnox  came  to  the  castle  in  haste  and 
perturbation.  It  was  he  who  propounded  the  ques 
tion  that  Yetive  and  Beverly  were  expecting: 
"  Where  is  Baldos?  "  Of  course,  the  flight  of  the  sus 
pected  guard  was  soon  a  matter  of  certainty.  A  single 
imploring  glance  from  the  princess,  meant  for  the 
faithful  Quinnox  alone,  told  him  as  plainly  as  words 
could  have  said  that  she  had  given  the  man  his  free 
dom.  And  Quinnox  would  have  died  a  thousand  times 
to  protect  the  secret  of  his  sovereign,  for  had  not 
twenty  generations  of  Quinnoxes  served  the  rulers  of 
Graustark  with  unflinching  loyalty?  Baron  Dang- 
loss  may  have  suspected  the  trick,  but  he  did  not  so 
much  as  blink  when  the  princess  instructed  him  to 
hunt  high  and  low  for  the  fugitive. 

Marlanx  came  at  eleven.  Under  the  defiant  calm 
ness  of  his  bearing  there  was  lurking  a  mighty  fear. 
His  brain  was  scourged  by  thoughts  of  impending 
disgrace.  The  princess  had  plainly  threatened  his 
degradation.  After  all  these  years,  he  was  to  tremble 
with  shame  and  humiliation;  he  was  to  cringe  where 
he  had  always  boasted  of  domineering  power.  And 
besides  all  this,  Marlanx  had  a  bullet  wound  in  his 


398       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

left  shoulder!  The  world  could  not  have  known,  for 
he  knew  how  to  conceal  pain. 

He  approached  the  slender,  imperious  judge  in  the 
council-chamber  with  a  defiant  leer  on  his  face.  If 
he  went  down  into  the  depths  he  would  drag  with 
him  the  fairest  treasure  he  had  coveted  in  all  his  years 
of  lust  and  desire. 

"  A  word  with  you,"  he  said  in  an  aside  to  Beverly, 
as  she  came  from  the  council-chamber,  in  which  she 
felt  she  should  not  sit.  She  stopped  and  faced  him. 
Instinctively  she  looked  to  see  if  he  bore  evidence  of 
a  wound.  She  was  positive  that  her  bullet  had  struck 
him  the  night  before,  and  that  Marlanx  was  the  man 
with  the  cloak. 

"Well?"  she  said  coldly.  He  read  her  thoughts 
and  smiled,  even  as  his  shoulder  burned  with  pain. 

"  I  will  give  you  the  chance  to  save  yourself.  I 
love  you.  I  want  you.  I  must  have  you  for  my 
own,"  he  was  saying. 

"  Stop,  sir !  It  may  be  your  experience  in  life  that 
women  kneel  to  you  when  you  command.  It  may  be 
your  habit  to  win  what  you  set  about  to  win.  But 
you  have  a  novel  way  of  presenting  your  devoirs,  I 
must  say.  Is  this  the  way  in  which  you  won  the  five 
unfortunates  whom  you  want  me  to  succeed?  Did 
you  scare  them  into  submission  ?  " 

"  No,  no !  I  cared  nothing  for  them.  You  are 
the  only  one  I  ever  loved 

"  Really,  Count  Marlanx,  you  are  most  amusing," 
she  interrupted,  with  a  laugh  that  stung  him  to  the 
quick.  "  You  have  been  unique  in  your  love-making. 


DEGRADATION    OF    MARLANX    299 

I  am  not  used  to  your  methods.  Besides,  after  hav 
ing  known  them,  I'll  confess  that  I  don't  like  them 
in  the  least.  You  may  have  been  wonderfully  suc 
cessful  in  the  past,  but  you  were  not  dealing  with  an 
American  girl.  I  have  had  enough  of  your  insults. 
Go !  Go  in  and  face 

*'  Have  a  care,  girl !  "  he  snarled.  "  I  have  it  in 
my  power  to  crush  you." 

"  Pooh !  "  came  scornfully  from  her  lips.  "  If  you 
molest  me  further  I  shall  call  Mr.  Lorry.  Let  me 
pass !  " 

"  Just  glance  at  this  paper,  my  beauty.  I  fancy 
you'll  change  your  tune.  It  goes  before  the  eyes 
of  the  council,  unless  you "  he  paused  signifi 
cantly. 

Beverly  took  the  document  and  with  dilated  eyes 
read  the  revolting  charges  against  her  honor.'  Her 
cheeks  grew  white  with  anger,  then  flushed  a  deep 
crimson. 

"  You  fiend !  "  she  cried,  glaring  at  him  so  fiercely 
that  he  instinctively  shrank  back,  the  vicious  grin 
dying  in  his  face.  "  I'll  show  you  how  much  I  fear 
you.  I  shall  give  this  revolting  thing  to  the  princess. 
She  may  read  it  to  the  cabinet,  for  all  I  care.  No 
one  will  believe  you.  They'll  kill  you  for  this !  " 

She  turned  and  flew  into  the  presence  of  the  princess 
and  her  ministers.  Speeding  to  the  side  of  Yetive, 
she  thrust  the  paper  into  her  hands.  Surprise  and 
expectancy  filled  the  eyes  of  all  assembled. 

"  Count  Marlanx  officially  charges  me  with  — 
with  —  Read  it,  your  highness,"  she  cried  distractedly. 


300       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Yetive  read  it,  pale-faced  and  cold.  A  deter 
mined  gleam  appeared  in  her  eyes  as  she  passed  the 
document  to  her  husband. 

"  Allode,"  Lorry  said  to  an  attendant,  after  a  brief 
glance  at  its  revolting  contents,  "  ask  Count  Marlanx 
to  appear  here  instantly.  He  is  outside  the  door." 

Lorry's  anger  was  hard  to  control.  He  clenched 
his  hands  and  there  was  a  fine  suggestion  of  throttling 
in  the  way  he  did  it.  Marlanx,  entering  the  room, 
saw  that  he  was  doomed.  He  had  not  expected  Bev 
erly  to  take  this  appalling  step.  The  girl,  tears  in 
her  eyes,  rushed  to  a  window,  hiding  her  face  from 
the  wondering  ministers.  Her  courage  suddenly 
failed  her.  If  the  charges  were  read  aloud  before 
these  men  it  seemed  to  her  that  she  never  could  lift 
her  eyes  again.  A  mighty  longing  for  Washington, 
her  father  and  the  big  Calhoun  boys,  rushed  to  her 
heart  as  she  stood  there  and  awaited  the  crash.  But 
Lorry  was  a  true  nobleman. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said  quietly,  "  Count  Marlanx 
has  seen  fit  to  charge  Miss  Calhoun  with  complicity 
in  the  flight  of  Baldos.  I  will  not  read  the  charges 
to  you.  They  are  unworthy  of  one  who  has  held  the 
highest  position  in  the  army  of  Graustark.  He 
has-  -" 

"  Read  this,  my  husband,  before  you  proceed  fur 
ther,"  said  Yetive,  thrusting  into  his  hand  a  line  she 
had  written  with  feverish  haste.  Lorry  smiled 
gravely  before  he  read  aloud  the  brief  edict  which 
removed  General  Marlanx  from  the  command  of  the 
army  of  Graustark. 


DEGRADATION    OF    MARLANX    301 

"  Is  this  justice? "  protested  Marlanx  angrily. 
"  Will  you  not  give  me  a  hearing?  I  beseech  — 

"  Silence ! "  commanded  the  princess.  "  What 
manner  of  hearing  did  you  expect  to  give  Miss  Cal- 
houn?  It  is  enough,  sir.  There  shall  be  no  cowards 
in  my  army." 

"  Coward?  "  he  faltered.  "  Have  I  not  proved  my 
courage  on  the  field  of  battle?  Am  I  to  be  called 


"  Bravery  should  not  end  when  the  soldier  quits 
the  field  of  battle.  You  have  had  a  hearing,  Count 
Marlanx.  I  heard  the  truth  about  you  last  night." 

"  From  Miss  Calhoun?  "  sneered  he  viciously.  "  I 
must  be  content  to  accept  this  dismissal,  your  high 
ness.  There  is  no  hope  for  me.  Some  day  you  may 
pray  God  to  forgive  you  for  the  wrong  you  have  done 
your  most  loyal  servant.  There  is  no  appeal  from 
your  decision;  but  as  a  subject  of  Graustark  I  insist 
that  Miss  Calhoun  shall  be  punished  for  aiding  in 
the  escape  of  this  spy  and  traitor.  He  is  gone,  and 
it  was  she  who  led  him  through  the  castle  to  the 
outer  world.  She  cannot  deny  this,  gentlemen.  I 
defy  her  to  say  she  did  not  accompany  Baldos  through 
the  secret  passage  last  night." 

"  It  will  do  no  harm  to  set  herself  right  by  demT- 
ing  this  accusation,"  suggested  Count  Halfont  sol 
emnly.  Every  man  in  the  cabinet  and  army  had 
hated  Marlanx  for  years.  His  degradation  was  not 
displeasing  to  them.  They  would  ask  no  questions. 

But  Beverly  Calhoun  stood  staring  out  of  the  win 
dow,  out  upon  the  castle  park  and  its  gay  sunshine. 


302       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

She  did  not  answer,  for  she  did  not  hear  the  premier's 
words.  Her  brain  was  whirling  madly  with  other 
thoughts.  She  was  trying  to  believe  her  eyes. 

"  The  spy  is  gone,"  cried  Marlanx,  seeing  a  faint 
chance  to  redeem  himself  at  her  expense.  "  She  can 
not  face  my  charge.  Where  is  your  friend,  Miss  Cal- 
houn?" 

Beverly  faced  them  with  a  strange,  subdued  calm 
ness  in  her  face.  Her  heart  was  throbbing  wildly  in 
the  shelter  of  this  splendid  disguise. 

"  I  don't  know  what  all  this  commotion  is  about," 
she  said.  "  I  only  know  that  I  have  been  dragged 
into  it  shamelessly  by  that  old  man  over  there.  If 
you  step  to  the  window  you  may  see  Baldos  himself. 
He  has  not  fled.  He  is  on  duty !  " 

Baldos  was  striding  steadily  across  the  park  in  plain 
view  of  all. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 


THE   PRINCE    OF    DAWSBERGEN 

OTH  Yetive  and  Beverly  expe 
rienced  an  amazing  sense  of  relief. 
They  did  not  stop  to  consider  why  or 
how  he  had  returned  to  the  castle 
grounds.  It  was  sufficient  that  he 
was  actually  there,  sound,  well,  and 
apparently  satisfied. 

"  I  dare  say  Count  Marlanx  will  withdraw  his  in 
famous  charge  against  our  guest,"  said  Lorry,  with 
deadly  directness.  Marlanx  was  mopping  his  damp 
forehead.  His  eyes  were  fastened  upon  the  figure 
of  the  guard,  and  there  was  something  like  awe  in 
their  steely  depths.  It  seemed  to  him  that  the  super 
natural  had  been  enlisted  against  him. 

"  He  left  the  castle  last  night,"  he  muttered,  half 
to  himself. 

"  There  seems  to  be  no  doubt  of  that,"  agreed  Gas- 
pon,  the  grand  treasurer.  "  Colonel  Quinnox  reports 
his  strange  disappearance."  Clearly  the  case  was  a 
puzzling  one.  Men  looked  at  one  another  in  wonder 
and  uneasiness. 

"  I  think  I  understand  the  situation,"  exclaimed 
Marlanx,  suddenly  triumphant.  "  It  bears  out  all 

303 


304.       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

that  I  have  said.  Baldos  left  the  castle  last  night,  as 
I  have  sworn,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  escaping. 
He  went  forth  to  carry  information  to  our  enemies. 
Can  anyone  doubt  that  he  is  a  spy?  Has  he  not 
returned  to  carry  out  his  work?  And  now,  gentlemen, 
I  ask  you  —  would  he  return  unless  he  felt  secure  of 
protection  here?  " 

It  was  a  facer.  Yetive  and  Beverly  felt  as  though 
a  steel  trap  suddenly  had  been  closed  down  upon  them. 
Lorry  and  Anguish  were  undeniably  disconcerted. 
There  was  a  restless,  undecided  movement  among  the 
ministers. 

"  Colonel  Quinnox,  will  you  fetch  Baldos  to  the 
verandah  at  once?  "  asked  Lorry,  his  quick  American 
perception  telling  him  that  immediate  action  was 
necessary.  "  It  is  cooler  out  there."  He  gave  Bev 
erly  a  look  of  inquiry.  She  flushed  painfully,  guilt 
ily,  and  he  was  troubled  in  consequence. 

"  As  a  mere  subject,  I  demand  the  arrest  of  this 
man,"  Marlanx  was  saying  excitedly.  "  We  must  go 
to  the  bottom  of  this  hellish  plot  to  injure  Graustark." 

"  My  dear  count,"  said  Anguish,  standing  over 
him,  "  up  to  this  time  we  have  been  unable  to  discern 
any  reasons  for  or  signs  of  the  treachery  you  preach 
about.  I  don't  believe  we  have  been  betrayed  at  all." 

"  But  I  have  absolute  proof,  sir,"  grated  the  count. 

"  I'd  advise  you  to  produce  it.  We  must  have 
something  te  work  on,  you  know." 

"  What  right  have  you  to  give  advice,  sir  ?  You 
are  not  one  of  us.  You  are  a  meddler  —  an  imperti 
nent  alien.  Your  heart  is  not  with  Graustark,  as 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN      305 

mine  is.  How  long  must  we  endure  the  insolence  of 
these  Americans?  " 

The  count  was  fuming  with  anger.  As  might  have 
been  expected,  the  easy-going  Yankees  laughed  un 
reservedly  at  his  taunt.  The  princess  was  pale  with 
indignation. 

"  Count  Mai'lanx,  you  will  confine  your  remarks 
to  the  man  whom  you  have  charged  with  treachery," 
she  said.  '*  You  have  asked  for  his  arrest,  and  you 
are  to  be  his  accuser.  At  the  proper  time  you  will 
produce  the  proof.  I  warn  you  now  that  if  you  do 
not  sustain  these  charges,  the  displeasure  of  the  crown 
will  fall  heavily  upon  you." 

"  I  only  ask  your  highness  to  order  his  arrest,"  he 
said,  controlling  himself.  "  He  is  of  the  castle  guard 
and  can  be  seized  only  on  your  command." 

"  Baldos  is  at  the  castle  steps,  your  highness,"  said 
Colonel  Quinnox  from  the  doorway.  The  entire  party 
left  the  council-chamber  and  passed  out  to  the  great 
stone  porch.  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  princess 
leaned  rather  heavily  upon  Lorry's  arm.  She  and 
Beverly  trembled  with  anxiety  as  they  stood  face  to 
face  with  the  tall  guard  who  had  come  back  to  them 
so  mysteriously. 

Baldos  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  stone  steps,  a  guard 
on  each  side  of  him.  One  of  these  was  the  shame 
faced  Haddan,  Dangloss's  watchman,  whose  vigil  had 
been  a  failure.  The  gaze  of  the  suspected  guard  pur 
posely  avoided  that  of  Beverly  Calhoun.  He  knew 
that  the  slightest  communication  between  them  would 
be  misunderstood  and  magnified  by  the  witnesses. 


306       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  Baldos,"  said  Lorry,  from  the  top  step,  "  it  has 
come  to  our  ears  that  you  left  the  castle  surreptitiously 
last  night.  Is  it  true  that  you  were  aided  by  Miss 
Calhoun?  "  Baldos  looked  thankful  for  this  eminently 
leading  question.  In  a  flash  it  gave  him  the  key  to 
the  situation.  Secretly  he  was  wondering  what  emo 
tions  possessed  the  slender  accomplice  who  had  said 
good-bye  to  him  not  so  many  hours  before  at  the  castle 
gate.  He  knew  that  she  was  amazed,  puzzled  by  his 
sudden  return;  he  wondered  if  she  were  glad.  His 
quick  wits  saw  that  a  crisis  had  arrived.  The  air 
was  full  of  it.  The  dread  of  this  very  moment  was 
the  thing  which  had  drawn  him  into  the  castle  grounds 
at  early  dawn.  He  had  watched  for  his  chance  to 
glide  in  unobserved,  and  had  snatched  a  few  hour^5 
sleep  in  the  shelter  of  the  shrubbery  near  the  park 
wall. 

"  It  is  not  true,"  he  said  clearly,  in  answer  to 
Lorry's  question.  Both  Beverly  and  Marlanx  started 
as  the  sharp  falsehood  fell  from  his  lips.  "  Who 
made  such  an  accusation?"  he  demanded. 

"  Count  Marlanx  is  our  informant." 

"  Then  Count  Marlanx  lies,"  came  coolly  from  the 
guard.  A  snarl  of  fury  burst  from  the  throat  of  the 
deposed  general.  His  eyes  were  red  and  his  tongue 
was  half  palsied  by  rage. 

"  Dog !  Dog ! "  he  shouted,  running  down  the 
steps.  "  Infamous  dog !  I  swear  by  my  soul  that 
he- 

"  Where  is  your  proof,  Count  Marlanx  ?  "  sternly 
interrupted  Lorry.  "  You  have  made  a  serious  ac- 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN      307 

cusation  against  our  honored  guest.  It  cannot  be 
overlooked." 

Marlanx  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  threw  his 
bomb  at  the  feet  of  the  conspirators. 

"  I  was  in  the  chapel  when  she  opened  the  secret 
panel  for  him." 

Not  a  word  was  uttered  for  a  full  minute.  It  was 
Beverly  Calhoun  who  spoke  first.  She  was  as  calm 
as  a  spring  morning. 

"  If  all  this  be  true,  Count  Marlanx,  may  I  ask 
why  you,  the  head  of  Graustark's  army,  did  not  inter 
cept  the  spy  when  you  had  the  chance?  " 

Marlanx  flushed  guiltily.  The  question  had 
caught  him  unprepared.  He  dared  not  acknowledge 
his  presence  there  with  the  hired  assassins. 

"I  —  I  was  not  in  a  position  to  restrain  him,"  he 
fumbled. 

"  You  preferred  to  wait  until  he  was  safely  gone 
before  making  the  effort  to  protect  Graustark  from 
his  evil  designs.  Is  that  it?  What  was  your  object 
in  going  to  the  chapel?  To  pray?  Besides,  what 
right  had  you  to  enter  the  castle  in  the  night  ?  "  she 
asked  ironically. 

"Your  highness,  may  I  be  heard?"  asked  Baldos 
easily.  He  was  smiling  up  at  Yetive  from  the  bot 
tom  of  the  steps.  She  nodded  her  head  a  trifle  un 
easily.  "  It  is  quite  true  that  I  left  the  castle  by 
means  of  your  secret  passage  last  night." 

"There!"  shrieked  Marlanx.  "He  admits  that 
he-  -" 

"  But  I  wish  to  add  that  Count  Marlanx  is  in  error 


308       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

•when  he  says  that  Miss  Calhoun  was  my  accomplice. 
His  eyes  were  not  keen  in  the  darkness  of  the  sanctu 
ary.  Perhaps  he  is  not  accustomed  to  the  light  one 
finds  in  a  chapel  at  the  hour  of  two.  Will  your  high 
ness  kindly  look  in  the  direction  of  the  southern  gate? 
Your  august  gaze  may  fall  upon  the  reclining  figure 
of  a  boy  asleep,  there  in  the  shadow  of  the  friendly 
cedar.  If  Count  Marlanx  had  looked  closely  enough 
last  night  he  might  have  seen  that  it  was  a  boy  who 
went  with  me  and  not 

"  Fool !  Don't  you  suppose  I  know  a  woman's 
skirts  ?  "  cried  the  Iron  Count. 

"  Better  than  most  men,  I  fancy,"  calmly  responded 
Baldos.  "  My  young  friend  wore  the  garments  of 
a  woman,  let  me  add." 

Lorry  came  down  and  grasped  Baldos  by  the  arm. 
His  eyes  were  stern  and  accusing.  Above,  Yetive  and 
Beverly  had  clasped  hands  and  were  looking  on 
dumbly.  What  did  Baldos  mean? 

"  Then,  you  did  go  through  the  passage?  And 
you  were  accompanied  by  this  boy,  a  stranger?  How 
comes  this,  sir?  "  demanded  Lorry.  Every  eye  was 
accusing  the  guard  at  this  juncture.  The  men  were 
descending  the  steps  as  if  to  surround  him. 

"  It  is  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  gone  through 
the  passage,  sir,"  said  Baldos,  amused  by  the  looks  of 
consternation.  "  I'd  advise  you  to  close  it.  Its 
secret  is  known  to  more  than  one  person.  It  is 
known,  by  the  way,  to  Prince  Gabriel  of  Dawsbergen. 
It  is  known  to  every  member  of  the  band  with  which 
Miss  Calhoun  found  me  when  she  was  a  princess. 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN     309 

Count  Marlanx  is  quite  right  when  he  says  that  I 
have  gone  in  and  out  of  the  castle  grounds  from 
time  to  time.  He  is  right  when  he  says  that  I  have 
communicated  with  men  inside  and  outside  of  these 
grounds.  But  he  is  wrong  when  he  accuses  Miss  Cal- 
houn  of  being  responsible  for  or  even  aware  of  my 
reprehensible  conduct.  She  knew  nothing  of  all  this, 
as  you  may  j  udge  by  taking  a  look  at  her  face  at  this 
instant." 

Beverly's  face  was  a  study  in  emotions.  She  was 
looking  at  him  with  dilated  eyes.  Pain  and  disap 
pointment  were  concentrated  in  their  expressive  gray 
depths ;  indignation  was  struggling  to  master  the  love 
and  pity  that  had  lurked  in  her  face  all  along.  It 
required  but  a  single  glance  to  convince  the  most 
skeptical  that  she  was  ignorant  of  these  astounding 
movements  on  the  part  of  her  protege.  Again  every 
eye  was  turned  upon  the  bold,  smiling  guardsman. 

"  I  have  been  bitterly  deceived  in  you,"  said  Lorry, 
genuine  pain  in  his  voice.  "  We  trusted  you  im 
plicitly.  I  didn't  think  it  of  you,  Baldos.  After 
all,  it  is  honorable  of  you  to  expose  so  thoroughly 
your  own  infamy  in  order  to  acquit  an  innocent  per 
son  who  believed  in  you.  You  did  not  have  to  come 
back  to  the  castle.  You  might  have  escaped  pun 
ishment  by  using  Miss  Calhoun  as  a  shield  from  her 
highness's  wrath.  But  none  the  less  you  compel  me 
to  give  countenance  to  all  that  Count  Marlanx  has 
said." 

"  I  insist  that  it  was  Miss  Calhoun  who  went 
through  the  panel  with  him,"  said  Marlanx  eagerly- 


310       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  If  it  was  this  boy  who  accompanied  you,  what  was 
his  excuse  in  returning  to  the  castle  after  you  had 
fled?" 

"  He  came  back  to  watch  over  Miss  Calhoun  while 
she  slept.  It  was  my  sworn  duty  to  guard  her  from 
the  man  who  had  accused  her.  This  boy  is  a  member 
of  the  band  to  which  I  belong  and  he  watched  while 
I  went  forth  on  a  pretty  business  of  my  own.  It 
will  be  useless  to  ask  what  that  business  was.  I  will 
not  tell.  Nor  will  the  boy.  You  may  kill  us,  but  our 
secrets  die  with  us.  This  much  I  will  say :  we  have 
done  nothing  disloyal  to  Graustark.  You  may  believe 
me  or  not.  It  has  been  necessary  for  me  to  com 
municate  with  my  friends,  and  I  found  the  means  soon 
after  my  arrival  here.  All  the  foxes  that  live  in 
the  hills  have  not  four  legs,"  he  concluded  signifi 
cantly. 

"  You  are  a  marvel !  "  exclaimed  Lornr,  and  there 
was  real  admiration  in  his  voice.  "  I'm  sorry  you 
were  fool  enough  to  come  back  and  get  caught  like 
this.  Don't  look  surprised,  gentlemen,  for  I  believe 
that  in  your  hearts  you  admire  him  quite  as  much  as 
I  do."  The  faint  smile  that  went  the  rounds  was 
confirmation  enough.  Nearly  every  man  there  had 
been  trained  in  English-speaking  lands  and  not  a 
word  of  the  conversation  had  been  missed. 

"  I  expected  to  be  arrested,  Mr.  Lorry,"  said 
Baldos  calmly.  "  I  knew  that  the  warrant  awaited 
me.  I  knew  that  my  flight  of  last  night  was  no 
secret.  I  came  back  willingly,  gladly,  your  highness, 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN      311 

and  now  I  am  ready  to  face  my  accuser.  There  is 
nothing  for  me  to  fear." 

"  And  after  you  have  confessed  to  all  these  actions  ? 
By  George,  I  like  your  nerve,"  exclaimed  Lorry. 

"  I  have  been  amply  vindicated,"  cried  Marlanx. 
"  Put  him  in  irons  —  and  that  boy,  too." 

"  We'll  interview  the  boy,"  said  Lorry,  remember 
ing  the  lad  beneath  the  tree. 

"  See ;  he's  sleeping  so  sweetly,"  said  Baldos  gently. 
"  Poor  lad,  he  has  not  known  sleep  for  many  hours. 
I  suppose  he'll  have  to  be  awakened,  poor  little  beg 
gar." 

Colonel  Qumnox  and  Haddan  crossed  the  grounds 
to  the  big  cedar.  The  boy  sprang  to  his  feet  at  their 
call  and  looked  wildly  about.  Two  big  hands  clasped 
his  arms,  and  a  moment  later  the  slight  figure  came 
pathetically  across  the  intervening  space  between  the 
stalwart  guards. 

"  Why  has  he  remained  here,  certain  of  arrest?  " 
demanded  Lorry  in  surprise. 

"  He  was  safer  with  me  than  anywhere  else,  Mr. 
Lorry.  You  may  shoot  me  a  thousand  times,  but  I 
implore  you  to  deal  gently  with  my  unhappy  friend. 
He  has  done  no  wrong.  The  clothes  you  see  upon 
that  trembling  figure  are  torturing  the  poor  heart 
more  than  you  can  know.  The  burning  flush  upon 
that  cheek  is  the  red  of  modesty.  Your  highness  and 
gentlemen,  I  ask  you  to  have  pity  on  this  gentle  friend 
of  mine."  He  threw  his  arm  about  the  shoulder  of  the 
slight  figure  as  it  drooped  against  him.  "  Count 


312       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Marlanx  was  right.     It  was  a  woman  he  saw  with  me 
in  the  chapel  last  night." 

The  sensation  created  by  this  simple  statement  was 
staggering.  The  flushed  face  was  unmistakably  that 
of  a  young  girl,  a  tender,  modest  thing  that  shrank 
before  the  eyes  of  a  grim  audience.  Womanly  in 
stinct  impelled  Yetive  to  shield  the  timid  masquerader. 
Her  strange  association  with  Baldos  was  not  of  enough 
consequence  in  the  eyes  of  this  tender  ruler  to  check 
the  impulse  of  gentleness  that  swept  over  her.  That 
the  girl  was  guiltless  of  any  wrong-doing  was  plain 
to  be  seen.  Her  eyes,  her  face,  her  trembling  figure 
furnished  proof  conclusive.  The  dark  looks  of  the 
men  were  softened  when  the  arm  of  the  princess  went 
about  the  stranger  and  drew  her  close. 

"  Bah !  Some  wanton  or  other !  "  sneered  Mar 
lanx.  "  But  a  pretty  one,  by  the  gods.  Baldos  has 
always  shown  his  good  taste." 

Baldos  glared  at  him  like  a  tiger  restrained. 

"  Before  God,  you  will  have  those  words  to  unsay," 
he  hissed. 

Yetive  felt  the  slight  body  of  the  girl  quiver  and 
then  grow  tense. 

The  eyes  of  Baldos  now  were  fixed  on  the  white, 
drawn  face  of  Beverly  Calhoun,  who  stood  quite  alone 
at  the  top  of  the  steps.  She  began  to  sway  dizzily 
and  he  saw  that  she  was  about  to  fall.  Springing 
away  from  the  guards,  he  dashed  up  the  steps  to  her 
side.  His  arm  caught  her  as  she  swayed,  and  its  touch 
restored  strength  to  her  —  the  strength  of  resentment 
and  defiance. 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN      313 

"  Don't !  "  she  whispered  hoarsely. 

"  Have  courage,"  he  murmured  softly.  "  It  will 
all  be  well.  There  is  no  danger." 

"  So  this  is  the  woman !  "  she  cried  bitterly. 

"  Yes.  You  alone  are  dearer  to  me  than  she,"  he 
uttered  hurriedly. 

"  I  can't  believe  a  word  you  say." 

"  You  will,  Beverly.  I  love  you.  That  is  why  I 
came  back.  I  could  not  leave  you  to  meet  it  alone. 
Was  I  not  right?  Let  them  put  me  into  irons  —  let 
them  kill  me " 

"  Come !  "  cried  Colonel  Quinnox,  reaching  his  side 
at  this  instant.  "  The  girl  will  be  cared  for.  You 
are  a  prisoner." 

"  Wait !  "  implored  Beverly,  light  suddenly  break 
ing  in  upon  her.  "  Please  wait,  Colonel  Quinnox." 
He  hesitated,  his  broad  shoulders  between  her  and  the 
gaping  crowd  below.  She  saw  with  grateful  heart 
that  Yetive  and  Lorry  were  holding  the  steps  as  if 
against  a  warlike  foe.  "  Is  she  —  is  she  your  wife  ?  " 

"  Good  heavens,  no !  "  gasped  Baldos. 

"  Your  sweetheart?  "  piteously. 

"  She  is  the  sister  of  the  man  I  serve  so  poorly,"  he 
whispered.  Quinnox  allowed  them  to  walk  a  few 
paces  down  the  flagging,  away  from  the  curious  gaze 
of  the  persons  below. 

"  Oh,  Baldos !  "  she  cried,  her  heart  suddenly  melt 
ing.  "  Is  she  Prince  Dantan's  sister?  "  Her  hand 
clasped  his  convulsively,  as  he  nodded  assent.  "  Now 
I  do  love  you." 

"  Thank  God!  "  he  whispered  joyously.     "  I  knew 


314       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

it,  but  I  was  afraid  you  never  would  speak  the  words. 
I  am  happy  —  I  am  wild  with  joy." 

"  But  they  may  shoot  you,"  she  shuddered.  "  You 
have  condemned  yourself.  Oh,  I  cannot  talk  to  you 
as  I  want  to  —  out  here  before  all  these  people. 
Don't  move,  Colonel  Quinnox  —  they  can't  see 
through  you.  Please  stand  still." 

"  They  will  not  shoot  me,  Beverly,  dear.  I  am  not 
a  spy,"  said  Baldos,  looking  down  into  the  eyes  of 
the  slender  boyish  figure  who  stood  beside  the  princess. 
"  It  is  better  that  I  should  die,  however,"  he  went  on 
bitterly.  "  Life  will  not  be  worth  living  without  you. 
You  would  not  give  yourself  to  the  lowly,  humble 
hunter,  so  I " 

"  I  will  marry  you,  Paul.  I  love  you.  Can't  any 
thing  be  done  to : 

"  It  is  bound  to  come  out  all  right  in  the  end,"  he 
cried,  throwing  up  his  head  to  drink  in  the  new  joy 
of  living.  "  They  will  find  that  I  have  done  nothing 
to  injure  Graustark.  Wait,  dearest,  until  the  day 
'gives  up  its  news.  It  will  not  be  long  in  coming.  Ah, 
this  promise  of  yours  gives  me  new  life,  new  joy.  I 
could  shout  it  from  the  housetops !  " 

"  But  don't !  "  she  cried  nervously.  "  How  docs 
she  happen  to  be  here  with  you?  Tell  me,  Paul.  Oh, 
isn't  she  a  dear?  " 

"  You  shall  know  everything  in  time.  Watch  over 
her,  dearest.  I  have  lied  to-day  for  you,  but  it  was 
a  lie  I  loved.  Care  for  her  if  you  love  me.  When 
I  am  free  and  in  favor  again  you  will  —  Ah !  "  he 
broke  off  suddenly  with  an  exclamation.  His  eyes 


THE  PRINCE  OF  DAWSBERGEN     315 

were  bent  eagerly  on  the  circle  of  trees  just  beyond 
the  parade-ground.  Then  his  hand  clasped  hers  in 
one  spasmodic  grip  of  relief.  An  instant  later  he 
was  towering,  with  head  bare,  at  the  top  of  the  steps, 
his  hand  pointed  dramatically  toward  the  trees. 

Ravone,  still  in  his  ragged  uniform,  haggard  but 
eager,  was  standing  like  a  gaunt  spectre  in  the  sun 
light  that  flooded  the  terrace.  The  vagabond,  with 
the  eyes  of  all  upon  him,  raised  and  lowered  his  arms 
thrice,  and  the  face  of  Baldos  became  radiant. 

"  Your  highness,"  he  cried  to  Yetive,  waving  his 
hand  toward  the  stranger,  "  I  have  the  honor  to  an 
nounce  the  Prince  of  Dawsbergen." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 


A    BOY   DISAPPEARS 

HIS  startling  announcement  threw  the 
company  into  the  greatest  excitement. 
Baldos  ran  down  the  steps  and  to  the 
side  of  the  astonished  princess. 

"  Prince   Dantan !  "    she    cried,    un 
believing. 

He  pushed  the  boyish  figure  aside  and  whispered 
earnestly  into  Yetive's  ear.  She  smiled  warmly  in 
response,  and  her  eyes  sparkled. 

"  And  this,  your  highness,  is  his  sister,  the  Princess 
Candace,"  he  announced  aloud,  bowing  low  before  the 
girl.  At  that  instant  she  ceased  to  be  the  timid, 
cringing  boy.  Her  chin  went  up  in  truly  regal  state 
as  she  calmly,  even  haughtily,  responded  to  the  dazed, 
half-earnest  salutes  of  the  men.  With  a  rare  smile  — • 
a  knowing  one  in  which  mischief  was  paramount  — 
she  spoke  to  Baldos,  giving  him  her  hand  to  kiss. 

"  Ah,  dear  Baldos,  you  have  achieved  your  sweetest 
triumph  —  the  theatrical  climax  to  all  this  time  of 
plotting.  My  brother's  sister  loves  you  for  all  this. 
Your  highness,"  and  she  turned  to  Yetive  with  a  capti 
vating  smile,  "  is  the  luckless  sister  of  Dantan  wel- 

316 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  317 

come  in  your  castle?  May  I  rest  here  in  peace?  It 
has  been  a  bitterly  long  year,  this  past  week,"  she 
sighed.  Fatigue  shot  back  into  her  sweet  face,  and 
Yetive's  love  went  out  to  her  unreservedly.  As  she 
drew  the  slight  figure  up  the  steps  she  turned  and 
said  to  her  ministers : 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  receive  Prince  Dantan  in  the 
throne-room,  without  delay.  I  am  going  to  put  the 
princess  to  bed." 

"  Your  highness,"  said  Baldos  from  below,  "  may  I 
be  the  first  to  announce  to  you  that  there  will  be  no 
war  with  Dawsbergen  ?  " 

This  was  too  much.  Even  Marlanx  looked  at  his 
enemy  with  something  like  collapse  in  his  e}'es. 

"  What  do  you  mean?  "  cried  Lorry,  seizing  him  by 
the  arm. 

"  I  mean  that  Prince  Dantan  is  here  to  announce 
the  recapture  of  Gabriel,  his  half-brother.  Before 
the  hour  is  past  your  own  men  from  the  dungeon  in 
the  mountains  will  come  to  report  the  return  of  the 
fugitive.  This  announcement  may  explain  in  a 
measure  the  conduct  that  has  earned  for  me  the  ac 
cusation  which  confronts  me.  The  men  who  have  re 
taken  Gabriel  are  the  members  of  that  little  band  you 
have  heard  so  much  about.  Once  I  was  its  captain, 
Prince  Dantan's  chief  of  staff  —  the  commander  of 
his  ragged  army  of  twelve.  Miss  Calhoun  and  fate 
brought  me  into  Edelweiss,  but  my  loyalty  to  the 
object  espoused  by  our  glorious  little  army  has  never 
wavered.  Without  me  they  have  succeeded  in  trick 
ing  and  trapping  Gabriel.  It  is  more  than  the  great 


318        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

army  of  Graustark  could  do.  Your  highness  will 
pardon  the  boast  under  the  circumstances  ?  " 

"  If  this  is  true,  you  have  accomplished  a  miracle," 
exclaimed  Lorry,  profoundly  agitated.  "  But  can  it 
be  true?  I  can't  believe  it.  It  is  too  good.  It  is 
too  utterly  improbable.  Is  that  really  Prince  Dan- 
tan?" 

"  Assuming  that  it  is  Dantan,  Grenfall,"  said 
Yetive,  "  I  fancy  it  is  not  courteous  in  us  to  let  him 
stand  over  there  all  alone  and  ignored.  Go  to  him, 
please."  With  that  she  passed  through  the  doors, 
accompanied  by  Beverly  and  the  young  princess. 
Lorry  and  others  went  to  greet  the  emaciated  visitor 
in  rags  and  tags.  Colonel  Quinnox  and  Baron  Dang- 
loss  looked  at  one  another  in  doubt  and  uncertainty. 
What  were  they  to  do  with  Baldos,  the  prisoner? 

"  You  are  asking  yourself  what  is  to  be  done  with 
me,"  said  Baldos  easily.  "  The  order  is  for  my 
arrest.  Only  the  princess  can  annul  it.  She  has  re 
tired  on  a  mission  of  love  and  tenderness.  I  would 
not  have  her  disturbed.  There  is  nothing  left  for  you 
to  do  but  to  place  me  in  a  cell.  I  am  quite  read}', 
Colonel  Quinnox.  You  will  be  wise  to  put  me  in  a 
place  where  I  cannot  hoodwink  you  further.  You 
do  not  bear  me  a  grudge?"  He  laughed  so  buoy 
antly,  so  fearlessly  that  Quinnox  forgave  him  every 
thing.  Dangloss  chuckled,  an  unheard-of  condescen 
sion  on  his  part.  "  We  shall  meet  again,  Count 
Marlanx.  You  were  not  far  wrong  in  your  accusa 
tions  against  me,  but  you  have  much  to  account  for  in 
another  direction." 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  319 

"  This  is  all  a  clever  trick,"  cried  the  Iron  Count. 
"  But  you  shall  find  me  ready  to  accommodate  you 
when  the  time  comes." 

At  this  juncture  Lorry  and  Count  Halfont  came 
up  with  Ravone.  Baldos  would  have  knelt  before  his 
ruler  had  not  the  worn,  sickly  young  man  restrained 
him. 

"  Your  hand,  Captain  Baldos,"  he  said.  "  Most 
loyal  of  friends.  You  have  won  far  more  than  the 
honor  and  love  I  can  bestow  upon  you.  They  tell  me 
you  are  a  prisoner,  a  suspected  traitor.  It  shall  be 
my  duty  and  joy  to  explain  your  motives  and  your 
actions.  Have  no  fear.  The  hour  will  be  short  and 
the  fruit  much  the  sweeter  for  the  bitterness." 

"  Thunder !  "  muttered  Harry  Anguish.  "  You 
don't  intend  to  slap  him  into  a  cell,  do  you,  Gren  ?  " 
Baldos  overheard  the  remark. 

"  I  prefer  that  course,  sir,  until  it  has  been  clearly 
established  that  all  I  have  said  to  you  is  the  truth. 
Count  Marlanx  must  be  satisfied,"  said  he. 

"And,  Baldos,  is  all  well  with  her?"  asked  the 
one  we  have  known  as  Ravone. 

"  She  is  being  put  to  bed,"  said  Baldos,  with  a 
laugh  so  jolly  that  Ravone's  lean  face  was  wreathed 
in  a  sympathetic  smile.  "  I  am  ready,  gentlemen." 
He  marched  gallantly  away  between  the  guards,  fol 
lowed  by  Dangloss  and  Colonel  Quinnox. 

Naturally  the  Graustark  leaders  were  cautious,  even 
skeptical.  They  awaited  confirmation  of  the  glori 
ous  news  with  varying  emotions.  The  shock  produced 
by  the  appearance  of  Prince  Dantan  in  the  person 


320        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

of  the  ascetic  Ravone  was  almost  stupefying.  Even 
Beverly,  who  knew  the  vagabond  better  than  all  the 
others,  had  not  dreamed  of  Ravone  as  the  fugitive 
prince.  Secretly  she  had  hoped  as  long  as  she  could 
that  Baldos  would  prove,  after  all,  to  be  no  other  than 
Dantan.  This  hope  had  dwindled  to  nothing,  how 
ever,  and  she  was  quite  prepared  for  the  revelation. 
She  now  saw  that  he  was  just  what  he  professed  to 
be  —  a  brave  but  humble  friend  of  the  young 
sovereign;  and  she  was  happy  in  the  knowledge  that 
she  loved  him  for  what  he  was  and  not  for  what  he 
might  have  been. 

"  He  is  my  truest  friend,"  said  Ravone,  as  they 
led  Baldos  away.  "  I  am  called  Ravone,  gentlemen, 
and  I  am  content  to  be  known  by  that  name  until  bet 
ter  fortune  gives  me  the  right  to  use  another.  You 
can  hardly  expect  a  thing  in  rags  to  be  called  a 
prince.  There  is  much  to  be  accomplished,  much  to 
be  forgiven,  before  there  is  a  Prince  Dantan  of  Daws- 
bergen  again." 

"  You  are  faint  and  weak,"  said  Lorry,  suddenly 
perceiving  his  plight.  "  The  hospitality  of  the  castle 
is  yours.  The  promise  we  made  a  few  days  ago  holds 
good.  Her  highness  will  be  proud  to  receive  you 
when  you  are  ready  to  come  to  the  throne-room.  1 
am  Grenf all  Lorry.  Come,  sir ;  rest  and  refresh  your 
self  in  our  gladdened  home.  An  hour  ago  we  were 
making  ready  to  rush  into  battle ;  but  your  astonish 
ing  but  welcome  news  is  calculated  to  change  every 
plan  we  have  made." 

"  Undoubtedly,   sir,   it   will.     Dawsbergen   hardly 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  321 

will  make  a  fight  to  release  Gabriel.  He  is  safe  in 
your  dungeons.  If  they  want  him  now,  they  must 
come  to  your  strongholds.  They  will  not  do  it,  be 
lieve  me,"  said  Ravone  simply.  "  Alas,  I  am  faint 
and  sore,  as  you  suspect.  May  I  lie  down  for  an 
hour  or  two?  In  that  time  you  will  have  heard  from 
your  wardens  and  my  story  will  be  substantiated. 
Then  I  shall  be  ready  to  accept  your  hospitality  as  it 
is  proffered.  Outside  your  city  gates  my  humble 
followers  lie  starving.  My  only  prayer  is  that  you 
will  send  them  cheer  and  succor." 

No  time  was  lost  in  sending  to  the  gates  for  the 
strollers  who  had  accomplished  the  marvel  of  the  day. 
The  news  of  Gabriel's  capture  was  kept  from  the 
city's  inhabitants  until  verification  came  from  the 
proper  sources,  but  those  in  control  of  the  affairs  of 
state  were  certain  that  Ravone's  story  was  true.  All 
operations  came  to  a  standstill.  The  movements  of 
the  army  were  checked.  Everything  lay  quiescent 
under  the  shock  of  this  startling  climax. 

"  Hang  it,"  growled  Anguish,  with  a  quizzical  grin, 
as  Ravone  departed  under  the  guidance  of  Count 
Halfont  himself,  "  this  knocks  me  galley-west.  I'd 
like  to  have  had  a  hand  in  it.  It  must  have  been 
great.  How  the  devil  do  you  think  that  miserable 
little  gang  of  tramps  pulled  it  off?  " 

"  Harry,"  said  Lorry  disgustedly,  "  they  taught 
us  a  trick  or  two." 

While  the  young  princess  was  being  cared  for  by 
Yetive's  own  maids  in  one  of  the  daintiest  bed 
chambers  of  the  castle,  Beverly  was  engaged  in  writ- 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

ing  a  brief  but  pointed  letter  to  her  Aunt  Josephine, 
who  was  still  in  St.  Petersburg.  She  had  persistently 
refused  to  visit  Edelweiss,  but  had  written  many  im 
perative  letters  commanding  her  niece  to  return  to  the 
Russian  capital.  Beverly  now  was  recalling  her  scat 
tered  wits  in  the  effort  to  appease  her  aunt  and  her 
father  at  the  same  time.  Major  Calhoun  em 
phatically  had  ordered  her  to  rejoin  her  aunt  and 
start  for  America  at  once.  Yesterday  Beverly  would 
have  begun  packing  for  the  trip  home.  Now  she  was 
eager  to  remain  in  Graustark  indefinitely.  She  was 
so  thrilled  by  joy  and  excitement  that  she  scarcely 
could  hold  the  pen. 

"  Father  says  the  United  States  papers  are  full 
of  awful  war  scares  from  the  Balkans.  Are  we  a 
part  of  the  Balkans,  Yetive?"  she  asked  of  Yetive, 
with  a  puzzled  frown,  emphasizing  the  pronoun  un 
consciously.  "  He  says  I'm  to  come  right  off  home. 
Says  he'll  not  pay  a  nickel  of  ransom  if  the  brigands 
catch  me,  as  they  did  Miss  Stone  and  that  woman 
who  had  the  baby.  He  says  mother  is  worried  half 
to  death.  I'm  just  going  to  cable  him  that  it's  all 
off.  Because  he  says  if  war  breaks  out  he's  going  to 
send  my  brother  Dan  over  here  to  get  me.  I'm  having 
Aunt  Josephine  send  him  this  cablegram  from  St. 
Petersburg :  '  They  never  fight  in  Balkans.  Just 
scare  each  other.  Skip  headlines,  father  dear.  Will 
be  home  soon.  Beverly.'  How  does  that  sound?  It 
will  cost  a  lot,  but  he  brought  it  upon  his  own  head. 
And  we're  not  in  the  Balkans,  anyway.  Aunt  Joe 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  323 

will  have  a  fit.  Please  call  an  A.  D.  T.  boy,  princess. 
I  want  to  send  this  message  to  St.  Petersburg." 

When  Candace  entered  the  princess's  boudoir  half 
an  hour  later,  she  was  far  from  being  the  timid  youth 
who  first  came  to  the  notice  of  the  Graustark  cabinet. 
She  was  now  attired  in  one  of  Beverly's  gowns,  and  it 
was  most  becoming  to  her.  Her  short  curly  brown 
hair  was  done  up  properly;  her  pink  and  white  com 
plexion  was  as  clear  as  cream,  now  that  the  dust  of  the 
road  was  gone;  her  dark  eyes  were  glowing  with  the 
wonder  and  interest  of  nineteen  years,  and  she  was, 
all  in  all,  a  most  enticing  bit  of  femininity. 

"  You  are  much  more  of  a  princess  now  than  when 
I  first  saw  you,"  smiled  Yetive,  drawing  her  down 
upon  the  cushions  of  the  window-seat  beside  her.  Can- 
dace  was  shy  and  diffident,  despite  her  proper  habili 
ments. 

"  But  she  was  such  a  pretty  boy,"  protested  Dag- 
mar.  "  You  don't  know  how  attractive  you  were  in 
those " 

Candace  blushed.  "  Oh,  they  were  awful,  but  they 
were  comfortable.  One  has  to  wear  trousers  if  one 
intends  to  be  a  vagabond.  I  wore  them  for  more  than 
a  week." 

"  You  shall  tell  us  all  about  it,"  said  Yetive,  hold 
ing  the  girl's  hand  in  hers.  "  It  must  have  been  a 
most  interesting  week  for  you." 

"  Oh,  there  is  not  much  to  tell,  your  highness,"  said 
Candace,  suddenly  reticent  and  shy.  "  My  step 
brother  —  oh,  how  I  hate  him  —  had  condemned  me 
to  die  because  he  thought  I  was  helping  Dantan. 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

And  I  was  helping  him,  too, —  all  that  I  could.  Old 
Bappo,  master  of  the  stables,  who  has  loved  me  for 
a  hundred  years,  he  says,  helped  me  to  escape  from 
the  palace  at  night.  They  were  to  have  seized  me  the 
next  morning.  Bappo  has  been  master  of  the  stables 
for  more  than  forty  years.  Dear  old  Bappo !  He 
procured  the  boy's  clothing  for  me  and  his  two  sons 
accompanied  me  to  the  hills,  where  I  soon  found  my 
brother  and  his  men.  We  saw  your  scouts  and  talked 
to  them  a  day  or  two  after  I  became  a  member  of 
the  band.  Bappo's  boys  are  with  the  band  now. 
But  my  brother  Dantan  shall  tell  you  of  that.  I  was 
so  frightened  I  could  not  tell  what  was  going  on.  I 
have  lived  in  the  open  air  for  a  week,  but  I  love  it. 
Dantan's  friends  are  all  heroes.  You  will  love  them. 
Yesterday  old  Franz  brought  a  message  into  the  castle 
grounds.  It  told  Captain  Baldos  of  the  plan  to  seize 
Gabriel,  who  was  in  the  hills  near  your  city.  Didn't 
you  know  of  that?  Oh,  we  knew  it  two  days  ago. 
Baldos  knew  it  yesterday.  He  met  us  at  four  o'clock 
this  morning  —  that  is,  part  of  us.  I  was  sent  on 
with  Franz  so  that  I  should  not  see  bloodshed  if  it 
came  to  the  worst.  We  were  near  the  city  gates  and 
Baldos  came  straight  to  us.  Isn't  it  funny  that  you 
never  knew  all  these  things?  Then  at  daybreak 
Baldos  insisted  on  bringing  me  here  to  await  the  news 
from  the  pass.  It  was  safer,  and  besides,  he  said  he 
had  another  object  in  coming  back  at  once." 

Beverly  flushed  warmly.  The  three  women  were 
crowding  about  the  narrator,  eagerly  drinking  in  her 
naive  story. 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  325 

"  We  came  in  through  one  of  the  big  gates  and  not 
through  the  underground  passage.  That  was 
a  fib,"  said  Candace,  looking  from  one  to  the 
other  with  a  perfectly  delicious  twinkle  in  her  eye. 
The  conspirators  gulped  and  smiled  guiltily. 
"  Baldos  says  there  is  a  very  mean  old  man  here  who 
is  tormenting  the  fairy  princess  —  not  the  real 
princess,  you  know.  He  came  back  to  protect  her, 
which  was  very  brave  of  him,  I  am  sure.  Where  is 
my  brother?  "  she  asked,  suddenly  anxious. 

"  He  is  with  friends.  Don't  be  alarmed,  dear," 
said  Yetive. 

"  He  is  changing  clothes,  too  ?  He  needs  clothes 
worse  than  I  needed  these.  Does  he  say  positively  that 
Gabriel  has  been  captured?  " 

"  Yes.     Did  you  not  know  of  it?  " 

"  I  was  sure  it  would  happen.  You  know  I  was  not 
with  them  in  the  pass." 

Yetive  was  reflecting,  a  soft  smile  in  her  eyes. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  the  time  when  I  wore  men's 
clothes,"  she  said.  "  Unlike  yours,  mine  were  most 
uncomfortable.  It  was  when  I  aided  Mr.  Lorry  in 
escaping  from  the  tower.  I  wore  a  guard's  uniform 
and  rode  miles  with  him  in  a  dark  carriage  before  he 
discovered  the  truth."  She  blushed  at  the  remem 
brance  of  that  trying  hour. 

"  And  I  wore  boy's  clothes  at  a  girl's  party  once  — 
my  brother  Dan's,"  said  Beverly.  "  The  hostess's 
brothers  came  home  unexpectedly  and  I  had  to  sit 
behind  a  bookcase  for  an  hour.  I  didn't  see  much  fun 
in  boy's  clothes." 


326        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  You  ought  to  wear  them  for  a  week,"  said 
Candace,  wise  in  experience.  "  They  are  not  so  bad 
when  you  become  accustomed  to  them  —  that  is,  if 
they're  strong  and  not  so  tight  that  they  — 

"You  all  love  Baldos,  don't  you?"  interrupted 
Yetive.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  the  listeners  sup 
pressed  their  smiles. 

"  Better  than  anyone  else.  He  is  our  idol.  Oh, 
your  highness,  if  what  he  says  is  true  that  old  man 
must  be  a  fiend.  Baldos  a  spy !  Why,  he  has  not 
slept  day  or  night  for  fear  that  we  would  not  capture 
Gabriel  so  that  he  might  be  cleared  of  the  charge 
without  appealing  to  —  to  my  brother.  He  has 
always  been  loyal  to  you,"  the  girl  said  with  eager 
eloquence. 

"  I  know,  dear,  and  I  have  known  all  along.  He 
will  be  honorably  acquitted.  Count  Marlanx  was 
overzealous.  He  has  not  been  wholly  wrong,  I  must 
say  in  justice  to  him " 

"  How  can  you  uphold  him,  Yetive,  after  what  he 
has  said  about  me?  "  cried  Beverly,  with  blazing  eves. 

"  Beverly,  Beverly,  you  know  I  don't  mean  that. 
He  has  been  a  cowardly  villain  so  far  as  you  are  con 
cerned  and  he  shall  be  punished,  never  fear.  I  cnn- 
not  condone  that  one  amazing  piece  of  wickedness  on 
his  part." 

"  You,  then,  are  the  girl  Baldos  talks  so  much 
about?"  cried  Candace  eagerly.  "You  are  Miss 
Calhoun,  the  fairy  princess?  I  am  so  glad  to  know 
you."  The  young  princess  clasped  Beverly's  hand 
and  looked  into  her  eyes  with  admiration  and  ap- 


A    BOY    DISAPPEARS  387 

proval.     Beverly  could  have  crushed  her  in  her  arms. 

The  sounds  of  shouting  came  up  to  the  windows 
from  below.  Outside,  men  were  rushing  to  and  fro 
and  there  were  signs  of  mighty  demonstrations  at  the 
gates. 

"  The  people  have  heard  of  the  capture,"  said 
Candace,  as  calmly  as  though  she  were  asking  one  to 
have  a  cup  of  tea. 

There  was  a  pounding  at  the  boudoir  door.  It 
flew  open  unceremoniously  and  in  rushed  Lorry,  fol 
lowed  by  Anguish.  In  the  hallway  beyond  a  group 
of  noblemen  conversed  excitedly  with  the  women  of 
the  castle. 

"  The  report  from  the  dungeons,  Yetive,"  cried 
Lorry  joyously.  "  The  warden  says  that  Gabriel  is 
in  his  cell  again !  Here's  to  Prince  Dantan !  " 

Ravone  was  standing  in  the  door.  Candace  ran 
over  and  leaped  into  his  arms. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


THE    CAPTURE    OF    GABRIEL 

AVONE  was  handsome  in  his  borrowed 
clothes.  He  was  now  the  clean,  im 
maculate  gentleman  instead  of  the 
wretched  vagabond  of  the  hills.  Even 
Beverly  was  surprised  at  the  change 
in  him.  His  erstwhile  sad  and  melan 
choly  face  was  flushed  and  bright  with  happiness, 
The  kiss  he  bestowed  upon  the  delighted  Candace 
was  tender  in  the  extreme.  Then,  putting  her  asidet 
he  strode  over  and  gallantly  kissed  the  hand  of 
Graustark's  princess,  beaming  an  ecstatic  smile  upon 
"the  merry  Beverly  an  instant  later. 

"  Welcome,  Prince  Dantan,"  said  Yetivc.  "  A 
thousand  times  welcome." 

"  All  Graustark  is  your  throne,  most  glorious 
Yetive.  That  is  why  I  have  asked  to  be  presented  here 
and  not  in  the  royal  hall  below,"  said  Ravone. 

"  You  will  wait  here  with  us,  then,  to  hear  the  good 
news  from  our  warden,"  said  the  princess.  "  Send 
the  courier  to  me,"  she  commanded.  "  Such  sweet 
news  should  be  received  in  the  place  which  is  dearest 
to  me  in  all  Graustark." 

The  ministers  and  the  lords  and  ladies  of  the  castle 
328 


THE    CAPTURE    OF    GABRIEL     329 

were  assembled  in  the  room  when  Baron  Dangloss 
appeared  with  the  courier  from  the  prison.  Count 
Marlanx  was  missing.  He  was  on  his  way  to  the 
fortress,  a  crushed,  furious,  impotent  old  man.  In 
his  quarters  he  was  to  sit  and  wait  for  the  blow  that 
he  knew  could  not  be  averted.  In  fear  and  despair, 
hiding  his  pain  and  his  shame,  he  was  racking  his 
brain  for  means  to  lessen  the  force  of  that  blow.  He 
could  withdraw  the  charges  against  Baldos,  but  he 
could  not  soften  the  words  he  had  said  and  written 
of  Beverly  Calhoun.  He  was  not  troubling  himself 
with  fear  because  of  the  adventures  in  the  chapel  and 
passage.  He  knew  too  well  how  Yetive  could  punish 
when  her  heart  was  bitter  against  an  evil-doer. 
Graustark  honored  and  protected  its  women. 

The  warden  of  the  dungeons  from  which  Gabriel 
had  escaped  months  before  reported  to  the  princess 
that  the  prisoner  was  again  in  custody.  Briefly  he 
related  that  a  party  of  men  led  by  Prince  Dantan  had 
appeared  early  that  day  bringing  the  fugitive  prince, 
uninjured,  but  crazed  by  rage  and  disappointment. 
They  had  tricked  him  into  following  them  through  the 
hills,  intent  upon  slaying  his  brother  Dantan.  There 
could  be  no  mistake  as  to  Gabriel's  identity.  In  con 
clusion,  the  warden  implored  her  highness  to  send 
troops  up  to  guard  the  prison  in  the  mountain-side. 
He  feared  an  attack  in  force  by  Gabriel's  army. 

"  Your  highness,"  said  Lorry,  "  I  have  sent  instruc 
tions  to  Colonel  Braze,  requiring  him  to  take  a  large 
force  of  men  into  the  pass  to  guard  the  prison. 


330        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

Gabriel  shall  not  escape  again,  though  all  Daws- 
bergen  comes  after  him." 

"  You  have  but  little  to  fear  from  Dawsbergen," 
said  Ravone,  who  was  seated  near  the  princess,  Can- 
dace  at  his  side.  "  Messages  have  been  brought  to 
me  from  the  leading  nobles  of  Dawsbergen,  assuring 
me  that  the  populace  is  secretly  eager  for  the  old 
reign  to  be  resumed.  Only  the  desperate  fear  of 
Gabriel  and  a  few  of  his  bloody  but  loyal  advisers 
holds  them  in  check.  Believe  me,  Dawsbergcn's 
efforts  to  release  Gabriel  will  be  perfunctory  and  half 
hearted  in  the  extreme.  He  ruled  like  a  madman. 
It  was  his  intense,  implacable  desire  to  kill  his  brother 
that  led  to  his  undoing.  Will  it  be  strange,  your 
highness,  if  Dawsbergen  welcomes  the  return  of  Dan- 
tan  in  his  stead?  " 

"  The  story !  The  story  of  his  capture  !  Tell  us 
the  story,"  came  eagerly  from  those  assembled.  Ra 
vone  leaned  back  languidly,  his  face  tired  and  drawn 
once  more,  as  if  the  mere  recalling  of  the  hardships 
past  was  hard  to  bear. 

"  First,  your  highness,  may  I  advise  you  and  your 
cabinet  to  send  another  ultimatum  to  the  people  of 
Dawsbergen?"  he  asked.  "This  time  say  to  them 
that  you  hold  two  Dawsbergen  princes  i'n  your  hand. 
One  cannot  and  will  not  be  restored  to  them.  The 
other  will  be  released  on  demand.  Let  the  embassy 
be  directed  to  meet  the  Duke  of  Matz,  the  premier. 
He  is  now  with  the  army,  not  far  from  your  frontier. 
May  it  please  your  highness,  I  have  myself  taken  the 
liberty  of  despatching  three  trusted  followers  with  the 


THE    CAPTURE    OF    GABRIEL     331 

news  of  Gabriel's  capture.  The  two  Bappos  and  Carl 
Vandos  are  now  speeding  to  the  frontier.  Your  em 
bassy  will  find  the  Duke  of  Matz  in  possession  of  all 
the  facts." 

"  The  Duke  of  Matz,  I  am  reliably  informed,  some 
day  is  to  be  father-in-law  to  Dawsbergen,"  smilingly 
said  Yetive.  "  I  shall  not  wonder  if  he  responds  most 
favorably  to  an  ultimatum." 

Ravone  and  Candace  exchanged  glances  of  amuse 
ment,  the  latter  breaking  into  a  deplorable  little  gur 
gle  of  laughter. 

"  I  beg  to  inform  you  that  the  duke's  daughter 
has  disdained  the  offer  from  the  crown,"  said  Ravone. 
"  She  has  married  Lieutenant  Alsanol,  of  the  royal 
artillery,  and  is  as  happy  as  a  butterfly.  Captain 
Baldos  could  have  told  you  how  the  wayward  young 
woman  defied  her  father  and  laughed  at  the  beggar 
prince." 

"  Captain  Baldos  is  an  exceedingly  discreet  person," 
Beverly  volunteered.  "  He  has  told  no  tales  out  of 
school." 

"  I  am  reminded  of  the  fact  that  you  gave  your 
purse  into  my  keeping  one  memorable  day  —  the  day 
when  we  parted  from  our  best  of  friends  at  Ganlook's 
gates.  I  thought  you  were  a  princess,  and  you  did 
not  know  that  I  understood  English.  That  was  a 
sore  hour  for  us.  Baldos  was  our  life,  the  heart  of 
our  enterprise.  Gabriel  hates  him  as  he  hates  his 
own  brother.  Steadfastly  has  Baldos  refused  to  join 
us  in  the  plot  to  seize  Prince  Gabriel.  He  once  took 
an  oath  to  kill  him  on  sight,  and  I  was  so  opposed  to 


332       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

this  that  he  had  to  be  left  out  of  the  final  adventures." 
"  Please  tell  us  how  you  succeeded  in  capturing  that 
—  your  half-brother,"  cried  Beverly,  forgetting  that 
it  was  another's  place  to  make  the  request.  The  au 
dience  drew  near,  eagerly  attentive. 

"  At  another  time  I  shall  rejoice  in  telling  the  story 
in  detail.  For  the  present  let  me  ask  you  to  be 
satisfied  with  the  statement  that  we  tricked  him  by 
means  of  letters  into  the  insane  hope  that  he  could 
capture  and  slay  his  half-brother.  Captain  Baldos 
suggested  the  plan.  Had  he  been  arrested  yesterday, 
I  feel  that  it  would  have  failed.  Gabriel  was  and  is 
insane.  We  led  him  a  chase  through  the  Graustark 
hills  until  the  time  was  ripe  for  the  final  act.  His 
small  band  of  followers  fled  at  our  sudden  attack,  and 
he  was  taken  almost  without  a  struggle,  not  ten  miles 
from  the  city  of  Edelweiss.  In  his  mad  ravings  we 
learned  that  his  chief  desire  was  to  kill  his  brother  and 
sister  and  after  that  to  carry  out  the  plan  that  has 
long  been  in  his  mind.  He  was  coming  to  Edelweiss 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  entering  the  castle  by  the 
underground  passage,  with  murder  in  his  heart. 
Gabriel  was  coming  to  kill  the  Princess  Yetive  and 
Mr.  Lorry.  He  has  never  forgotten  the  love  he  bore 
for  the  princess,  nor  the  hatred  he  owes  his  rival.  It 
was  the  duty  of  Captain  Baldos  to  see  that  he  did  not 
enter  the  passage  in  the  event  that  he  eluded  us  in 
the  hills." 

Later  in  the  day  the  Princess  Yetive  received  from 
the  gaunt,  hawkish  old  man  in  the  fortress  a  signed 
statement,  withdrawing  his  charges  against  Baldos, 


THE    CAPTURE    OF    GABRIEL     333 

the  guard.  Marlanx  did  not  ask  for  leniency;  it 
was  not  in  him  to  plead.  If  the  humble  withdrawal 
of  charges  against  Baldos  could  mitigate  the  punish 
ment  he  knew  Yetive  would  impose,  all  well  and  good. 
If  it  went  for  naught,  he  was  prepared  for  the  worst. 
Down  there  in  his  quarters,  with  wine  before  him, 
he  sat  and  waited  for  the  end.  He  knew  that  there 
was  but  one  fate  for  the  man,  great  or  small,  who 
attacked  a  woman  in  Graustark.  His  only  hope  was 
that  the  princess  might  make  an  exception  in  the  case 
of  one  who  had  been  the  head  of  the  army  —  but  the 
hope  was  too  small  to  cherish. 

Baldos  walked  forth  a  free  man,  the  plaudits  of 
the  people  in  his  ears.  Baron  Dangloss  and  Colonel 
Quinnox  were  beside  the  tall  guard  as  he  came  for 
ward  to  receive  the  commendations  and  apologies  of 
Graustark's  ruler  and  the  warm  promises  of  reward 
from  the  man  he  served. 

He  knelt  before  the  two  rulers  who  were  holding 
court  on  the  veranda.  The  cheers  of  nobles,  the 
shouts  of  soldiery,  the  exclamations  of  the  ladies  did 
not  turn  his  confident  head.  He  was  the  born  knight. 
The  look  of  triumph  that  he  bestowed  upon  Beverly 
Calhoun,  who  lounged  gracefully  beside  the  stone 
balustrade,  brought  the  red  flying  to  her  cheeks.  He 
took  something  from  his  breast  and  held  it  gallantly 
to  his  lips,  before  all  the  assembled  courtiers.  Bev 
erly  knew  that  it  was  a  faded  rose ! 


CHAPTER  XXX 


He 


IN  THE  GROTTO 

HE  next  morning  a  royal  messenger 
came  to  Count  Marlanx.     He  bore  two 
.     sealed  letters  from  the  princess.     One 
briefly    informed    him    that    General 
Braze  was  his  successor  as  commander- 
in-chief    of    the    army    of    Graustark. 
hesitated     long     before     opening     the     other. 


It  was  equally  brief  and  to  the  point.  The  Iron 
Count's  teeth  came  together  with  a  savage  snap 
as  he  read  the  signature  of  the  princess  at  the  end. 
There  was  no  recourse.  She  had  struck  for  Beverly 
Calhoun.  He  looked  at  his  watch.  It  was  eleven 
o'clock.  The  edict  gave  him  twenty-four  hours  from 
the  noon  of  that  day.  The  gray  old  libertine  des- 
.  patched  a  messenger  for  his  man  of  affairs,  a  lawyer 
of  high  standing  in  Edelweiss.  Together  they  con 
sulted  until  midnight.  Shortly  after  daybreak  the 
morning  following,  Count  Marlanx  was  in  the  train 
for  Vienna,  never  to  set  foot  on  Graustark's  soil  again. 
He  was  banished  and  his  estates  confiscated  by  the 
government. 

The  ministry  in  Edelweiss  was  not  slow  to  reopen 
334 


IN    THE    GROTTO  335 

negotiations  with  Dawsbergen.  A  proclamation  was 
sent  to  the  prime  minister,  setting  forth  the  new  order 
of  affairs  and  suggesting  the  instant  suspension  of 
hostile  preparations  and  the  restoration  of  Prince 
Dantan.  Accompanying  this  proclamation  went  a  dig 
nified  message  from  Dantan,  informing  his  people  that 
he  awaited  their  commands.  He  was  ready  to  resume 
the  throne  that  had  been  so  desecrated.  It  would 
be  his  joy  to  restore  Dawsbergen  to  its  once  peaceful 
and  prosperous  condition.  In  the  meantime  the  Duke 
of  Mizrox  despatched  the  news  to  the  Princess  Volga 
of  Axphain,  who  was  forced  to  abandon  —  tempo 
rarily,  at  least  —  her  desperate  designs  upon  Grau- 
stark.  The  capture  of  Gabriel  put  an  end  to  her 
transparent  plans. 

"  But  she  is  bound  to  break  out  against  us  sooner 
or  later  and  on  the  slightest  provocation,"  said  Yetive. 

"  I  daresay  that  a  friendly  alliance  between  Grau- 
stark  and  Dawsbergen  will  prove  sufficient  to  check 
any  ambitions  she  may  have  along  that  line,"  said 
Ravone  significantly.  "  They  are  very  near  to  each 
other  now,  your  highness.  Friends  should  stand  to 
gether." 

Beverly  Calhoun  was  in  suspense.  Baldos  had  been 
sent  off  to  the  frontier  by  Prince  Dantan,  carrying 
the  message  which  could  be  trusted  to  no  other.  He 
accompanied  the  Graustark  ambassadors  of  peace  as 
Dantan's  special  agent.  He  went  in  the  night  time 
and  Beverly  did  not  see  him.  The  week  which  fol 
lowed  his  departure  was  the  longest  she  ever  spent. 
She  was  troubled  in  her  heart  for  fear  that  he  might 


336       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

not  return,  despite  the  declaration  she  had  made  to 
him  in  one  hysterical  moment.  It  was  difficult  for 
her  to  keep  up  the  show  of  cheerfulness  that  was  ex 
pected  of  her.  Reticence  became  her  strongest  char 
acteristic.  She  persistently  refused  to  be  drawn  into 
a  discussion  of  her  relations  with  the  absent  one. 
Yetive  was  piqued  by  her  manner  at  first,  but  wisely 
saw  through  the  mask  as  time  went  on.  She  and 
Prince  Dantan  had  many  quiet  and  interesting  chats 
concerning  Beverly  and  the  erstwhile  guard.  The 
prince  took  Lorry  and  the  princess  into  his  confi 
dence.  He  told  them  all  there  was  to  tell  about  his 
dashing  friend  and  companion. 

Beverly  and  the  young  Princess  Candace  became 
fast  and  loving  friends.  The  young  girl's  worship 
of  her  brother  was  beautiful  to  behold.  She  huddled 
close  to  him  on  every  occasion,  and  her  dark  eyes  be 
spoke  adoration  whenever  his  name  was  mentioned  in 
her  presence. 

"  If  he  doesn't  come  back  pretty  soon,  I'll  pack  up 
and  start  for  home,"  Beverly  said  to  herself  resent 
fully  one  day.  "  Then  if  he  wants  to  see  me  he'll 
have  to  come  all  the  way  to  Washin'ton.  And  I'm 
not  sure  that  he  can  do  it,  either.  He's  too  disgust 
ingly  poor." 

"  Wha's  became  o'  dat  Misteh  Baldos,  Miss 
Bev'ly  ?  "  asked  Aunt  Fanny  in  the  midst  of  these 
sorry  cogitations.  "  Has  he  tuck  hit  int'  his  haid 
to  desert  us  f6'  good?  Seems  to  me  he'd  oughteh 


Now,  that  will   do,   Aunt  Fanny,"   reprimanded 


IN    THE    GROTTO  337 

her    mistress    sternly.     "  You    are    not    supposed    to 
know  anything  about  affairs  of  state.      So  don't  ask." 

At  last  she  no  longer  could  curb  her  impatience  and 
anxiety.  She  deliberately  sought  information  from 
Prince  Dantan.  They  were  strolling  in  the  park  on 
the  seventh  day  of  her  inquisition. 

"  Have  you  heard  from  Paul  Baldos  ?  "  she  asked, 
bravely  plunging  into  deep  water. 

"  He  is  expected  here  to-morrow  or  the  next  day, 
Miss  Calhoun.  I  am  almost  as  eager  to  see  him  as 
you  arc,"  he  replied,  with  a  very  pointed  smile. 

"  Almost  ?  Well,  yes,  I'll  confess  that  I  am  eager 
to  see  him.  I  never  knew  I  could  long  for  anyone 
as  much  as  I  —  Oh,  well,  there's  no  use  hiding  it  from 
you.  I  couldn't  if  I  tried.  I  care  very  much  for 
him.  You  don't  think  it  sounds  silly  for  me  to  say 
such  a  thing,  do  you?  I've  thought  a  great  deal 
of  him  ever  since  the  night  at  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk 
and  Raven.  In  my  imagination  I  have  tried  to  strip 
you  of  your  princely  robes  to  place  them  upon  him. 
But  he  is  only  Baldos,  in  spite  of  it  all.  He  knows 
that  I  care  for  him,  and  I  know  that  he  cares  for  me. 
Perhaps  he  has  told  you." 

"  Yes,  he  has  confessed  that  he  loves  you,  Miss 
Calhoun,  and  he  laments  the  fact  that  his  love  seems 
hopeless.  Paul  wonders  in  his  heart  if  it  would  be 
right  in  him  to  ask  you  to  give  up  all  you  have  of 
wealth  and  pleasure  to  share  a  humble  lot  with  him." 

"  I  love  him.  Isn't  that  enough?  There  is  no 
wealth  so  great  as  that.  But,"  and  she  pursed  her 
mouth  in  pathetic  despair,  "  don't  you  think  that  you 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

can  make  a  noble  or  something  of  him  and  give  him 
a  station  in  life  worthy  of  his  ambitions?  He  has 
done  so  much  for  you,  you  know." 

"  I  have  nothing  that  I  can  give  to  him,  he  says. 
Paul  Baldos  asks  only  that  he  may  be  my  champion 
until  these  negotiations  are  ended.  Then  he  desires 
to  be  free  to  serve  whom  he  will.  All  that  I  can  do 
is  to  let  him  have  his  way.  He  is  a  freelance  and  he 
asks  no  favors,  no  help." 

"  Well,  I  think  he's  perfectly  ridiculous  about  it, 
don't  you?  And  yet,  that  is  the  very  thing  I  like 
in  him.  I  am  only  wondering  how  we  —  I  mean,  how 
he  is  going  to  live,  that's  all." 

"  If  I  am  correctly  informed  he  still  has  several 
months  to  serve  in  the  service  for  which  he  enlisted. 
You  alone,  I  believe,  have  the  power  to  discharge 
him  before  his  term  expires,"  said  he  meaningly. 

That  night  Baldos  returned  to  Edelweiss,  ahead  of 
the  Graustark  delegation  which  was  coming  the  next 
day  with  representatives  from  Dawsbergen.  He 
brought  the  most  glorious  news  from  the  frontier. 
The  Duke  of  Matz  and  the  leading  dignitaries  had 
heard  of  Gabriel's  capture,  both  through  the  Bappo 
boys  and  through  a  few  of  his  henchmen  who  had 
staggered  into  camp  after  the  disaster.  The  news 
threw  the  Dawsbergen  diplomats  into  a  deplorable 
state  of  uncertainty.  Even  the  men  high  in  authority, 
while  not  especially  depressed  over  the  fall  of  their 
sovereign,  were  in  doubt  as  to  what  would  be  the  next 
move  in  their  series  of  tragedies.  Almost  to  a  man 
they  regretted  the  folly  which  had  drawn  them  into 


IX    THE    GROTTO  339 

the  net  with  Gabriel.  Baldos  reported  that  the  Duke 
of  Matz  and  a  dozen  of  the  most  distinguished  men 
in  Dawsbergen  were  on  their  way  to  Edelweiss  to  com 
plete  arrangements  for  peace  and  to  lay  their  renun 
ciation  of  Gabriel  before  Dantan  in  a  neutral  court. 
The  people  of  Dawsbergen  had  been  clamoring  long 
for  Dantan's  restoration,  and  Baldos  was  commis 
sioned  to  say  that  his  return  would  be  the  signal  for 
great  rejoicing.  He  was  closeted  until  after  mid 
night  with  Dantan  and  his  sister,  Lorry  and  Prin 
cess  Yetive  being  called  in  at  the  end  to  hear  and 
approve  of  the  manifesto  prepared  by  the  Prince  of 
Dawsbergen.  The  next  morning  the  word  went  forth 
that  a  great  banquet  was  to  be  given  in  the  castle  that 
night  for  Prince  Dantan  and  the  approaching  noble 
men.  The  prince  expected  to  depart  almost  immedi 
ately  thereafter  to  resume  the  throne  in  Serros. 

Baldos  was  wandering  through  the  park  early  in 
the  morning.  His  duties  rested  lightly  upon  his  shoul 
ders,  but  he  was  restless  and  dissatisfied.  The  long 
ing  in  his  heart  urged  him  to  turn  his  eyes  ever  and 
anon  toward  the  balcony  and  then  to  the  obstinate- 
looking  castle  doors.  The  uniform  of  a  Graustark 
guard  still  graced  his  splendid  figure.  At  last  a 
graceful  form  was  seen  coming  from  the  castle  toward 
the  cedars.  She  walked  bravely,  but  aimlessly.  That 
was  plain  to  be  seen.  It  was  evident  that  she  was 
and  was  not  looking  for  some  one.  Baldos  observed 
with  a  thrill  of  delight  that  a  certain  red  feather  stood 
up  defiantly  from  the  band  of  her  sailor  hat.  He 


340        BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

liked  the  way  her  dark-blue  walking-skirt  swished  in 
harmony  with  her  lithe,  firm  strides. 

She  was  quite  near  before  he  advanced  from  his 
place  among  the  trees.  He  did  not  expect  her  to 
exhibit  surprise  or  confusion  and  he  was  not  disap 
pointed.  She  was  as  cool  as  a  brisk  spring  morning. 
He  did  not  offer  his  hand,  but,  with  a  fine  smile  of 
contentment,  bowed  low  and  with  mock  servility. 

"  I  report  for  duty,  your  highness,"  he  said.  She 
caught  the  ring  of  gladness  in  his  voice. 

"  Then  I  command  you  to  shake  hands  with  me," 
she  said  brightly.  "  You  have  been  away,  I  believe  ?  " 
with  a  delicious  inflection. 

"  Yes,  for  a  century  or  more,  I'm  sure."  Con 
straint  fell  upon  them  suddenly.  The  hour  had  come 
for  a  definite  understanding  and  both  were  conquered 
by  its  importance.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he 
knew  the  meaning  of  diffidence.  It  came  over  him  as 
he  looked  helplessly  into  the  clear,  gray,  earnest  eyes. 
"  I  love  you  for  wearing  that  red  feather,"  he  said 
simply. 

"  And  I  loved  you  for  wearing  it,"  she  answered, 
her  voice  soft  and  thrilling.  He  caught  his  breath 
joyously. 

"  Beverly,"  as  he  bent  over  her,  "  you  are  my  very 
life,  my " 

"  Don't,  Paul ! "  she  whispered,  drawing  away  with 
an  embarrassed  glance  about  the  park.  There  were 
people  to  be  seen  on  all  sides.  But  he  had  forgotten 
them.  He  thought  only  of  the  girl  who  ruled  his 


IN    THE    GROTTO  341 

heart.  Seeing  the  pain  in  his  face,  she  hastily,  even 
blushingly,  said :  "  It  is  so  public,  dear." 

He  straightened  himself  with  soldierly  precision, 
but  his  voice  trembled  as  he  tried  to  speak  calmly  in 
defiance  to  his  eyes.  "  There  is  the  grotto  —  see ! 
It  is  seclusion  itself.  Will  you  come  with  me?  I 
must  tell  you  all  that  is  in  my  heart.  It  will  burst 
if  I  do  not." 

Slowly  they  made  their  way  to  the  fairy  grotto  deep 
in  the  thicket  of  trees.  It  was  Yetive's  favorite 
dreaming  place.  Dark  and  cool  and  musical  with  the 
rippling  of  waters,  it  was  an  ideal  retreat.  She 
dropped  upon  the  rustic  bench  that  stood  against  the 
moss-covered  wall  of  boulders.  With  the  gentle  re 
serve  of  a  man  who  reveres  as  well  as  loves,  Baldos 
stood  above  her.  He  waited  and  she  understood. 
How  unlike  most  impatient  lovers  he  was ! 

"  You  may  sit  beside  me,"  she  said  with  a  wistful 
smile  of  acknowledgment.  As  he  flung  himself  into 
the  seat,  his  hand  eagerly  sought  hers,  his  courtly 
reserve  gone  to  the  winds. 

"  Beverly,  dearest  one,  you  never  can  know  how 
much  I  love  you,"  he  whispered  into  her  ear.  "  It  is 
a  deathless  love,  unconquerable,  unalterable.  It  is 
in  my  blood  to  love  forever.  Listen  to  me,  dear  one: 
I  come  of  a  race  whose  love  is  hot  and  enduring.  My 
people  from  time  immemorial  have  loved  as  no  other 
people  have  loved.  They  have  killed  and  slaughtered 
for  the  sake  of  the  glorious  passion.  Love  is  the 
religion  of  my  people.  You  must,  you  shall  believe 
me  when  I  say  that  I  will  love  you  better  than  my  soul 


342       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

so  long  as  that  soul  exists.  I  loved  you  the  day  I 
met  you.  It  has  been  worship  since  that  time." 

His  passion  carried  her  resistlessly  away  as  the 
great  waves  sweep  the  deck  of  a  ship  at  sea.  She  was 
out  in  the  ocean  of  love,  far  from  all  else  that  was 
dear  to  her,  far  from  all  harbors  save  the  mysterious 
one  to  which  his  passion  was  piloting  her  through  a 
storm  of  emotion. 

"  I  have  longed  so  to  hold  you  in  my  arm?,  Bev 
erly  —  even  when  you  were  a  princess  and  I  lay  in 
the  hospital  at  Ganlook,  my  fevered  arms  hungered 
for  you.  There  never  has  been  a  moment  that  my 
heart  has  not  been  reaching  out  in  search  of  yours. 
You  have  glorified  me,  dearest,  by  the  promise  you 
made  a  week  ago.  I  know  that  you  will  not  renounce 
that  precious  pledge.  It  is  in  your  eyes  now  —  the 
eyes  I  shall  worship  to  the  end  of  eternity.  Tell  me, 
though,  with  your  own  lips,  your  own  voice,  that  you 
will  be  my  wife,  mine  to  hold  forever." 

For  answer  she  placed  her  arms  about  his  neck  and 
buried  her  face  against  his  shoulder.  There  were 
tears  in  her  gray  eyes  and  there  was  a  sob  in  her 
throat.  He  held  her  close  to  his  breast  for  an  eter 
nity,  it  seemed  to  both,  neither  giving  voice  to  the 
song  their  hearts  were  singing.  There  was  no  other 
world  than  the  fairy  grotto. 

"  Sweetheart,  I  am  asking  you  to  make  a  great 
sacrifice,"  he  said  at  last,  his  voice  hoarse  but  tender. 
She  looked  up  into  his  face  serenely.  "  Can  you  give 
up  the  joys,  the  wealth,  the  comforts  of  that  home 
across  the  sea  to  share  a  lowly  cottage  with  me  and 


IN    THE    GROTTO  343 

my  love  ?  Wait,  dear, —  do  not  speak  until  I  am 
through.  You  must  think  of  what  your  friends  will 
say.  The  love  and  life  I  offer  you  now  will  not  be 
like  that  which  you  always  have  known.  It  will  be 
poverty  and  the  dregs,  not  riches  and  wine.  It 
will  be  -  -  " 

But  she  placed  her  hand  upon  his  lips,  shaking  her 
head  emphatically.  The  picture  he  was  painting  was 
the  same  one  that  she  had  studied  for  days  and  days. 
Its  every  shadow  was  familiar  to  her,  its  every  un 
wholesome  corner  was  as  plain  as  day. 

"  The  rest  of  the  world  may  think  what  it  likes, 
Paul,"  she  said.  "  It  will  make  no  difference  to  me. 
I  have  awakened  from  my  dream.  My  dream  prince 
is  gone,  and  I  find  that  it's  the  real  man  that  I  love. 
What  would  you  have  me  do?  Give  you  up  because 
you  are  poor?  Or  would  you  have  me  go  up  the  lad 
der  of  fame  and  prosperity  with  you,  a  humble  but 
adoring  burden?  I  know  you,  dear.  You  will  not 
always  be  poor.  They  may  say  what  they  like.  I 
have  thought  long  and  well,  because  I  am  not  a  fool. 
It  is  the  American  girl  who  marries  the  titled  foreigner 
without  love  that  is  a  fool.  Marrying  a  poor  man  is 
too  serious  a  business  to  be  handled  by  fools.  I  have 
written  to  my  father,  telling  him  that  I  am  going  to 
marry  you,"  she  announced.  He  gasped  with  un 
belief. 

"  You  have  —  already?  "  he  cried. 

"  Of  course.  My  mind  has  been  made  up  for  more 
than  a  week.  I  told  it  to  Aunt  Fanny  last  night." 

"And  she?" 


BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

"  She  almost  died,  that's  all,"  said  she  unblush- 
ingly.  "  I  was  afraid  to  cable  the  news  to  father. 
He  might  stop  me  if  he  knew  it  in  time.  A  letter  was 
much  smarter." 

"  You  dear,  dear  little  sacrifice,"  he  cried  tenderly. 
"  I  will  give  all  my  life  to  make  you  happy." 

"  I  am  a  soldier's  daughter,  and  I  can  be  a  soldier's 
wife.  I  have  tried  hard  to  give  you  up,  Paul,  but  I 
couldn't.  You  are  love's  soldier,  dear,  and  it  is  a  — 
a  relief  to  surrender  and  have  it  over  with." 

They  fell  to  discussing  plans  for  the  future.  It 
all  went  smoothly  and  airily  until  he  asked  her  when 
he  should  go  to  Washington  to  claim  her  as  his  wife. 
She  gave  him  a  startled,  puzzled  look. 

"  To  Washin'ton  ?  "  she  murmured,  turning  very 
cold  and  weak.  "  You  —  you  won't  have  to  go  to 
Washin'ton,  dear;  I'll  stay  here." 

"  My  dear  Beverly,  I  can  afford  the  trip,"  he 
laughed.  "  I  am  not  an  absolute  pauper.  Besides, 
it  is  right  and  just  that  your  father  should  give  you 
to  me.  It  is  the  custom  of  our  land."  She  was 
nervous  and  uncertain. 

"  But  —  but,  Paul,  there  arc  many  things  to  think 
of,"  she  faltered. 

"  You  mean  that  your  father  would  not  consent  ?  " 

"  Well, —  he  —  he  might  be  unreasonable,"  she 
stammered.  "  And  then  there  are  my  brothers, 
Keith  and  Dan.  They  are  foolishly  interested  in  me. 
Dan  thinks  no  one  is  good  enough  for  me.  So  does 
Keith.  And  father,  too,  for  that  matter, —  and 
mother.  You  see,  it's  not  just  as  if  you  were  a  grand 


IN    THE    GROTTO  345 

and  wealthy  nobleman.  They  may  not  understand. 
We  are  southerners,  you  know.  Some  of  them  have 
peculiar  ideas  about " 

"  Don't  distress  yourself  so  much,  dearest,"  he  said 
with  a  laugh.  "  Though  I  see  your  position  clearly 
—  and  it  is  not  an  enviable  one." 

"  We  can  go  to  Washin'ton  just  as  soon  as  we  are 
married,"  she  compromised.  "  Father  has  a  great 
deal  of  influence  over  there.  With  his  help  behind 

you  you  will  soon  be  a  power  in  the  United "  but 

his  hearty  laugh  checked  her  eager  plotting.  "  It's 
nothing  to  laugh  at,  Paul,"  she  said. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  a  thousand  times.  I  was 
thinking  of  the  disappointment  I  must  give  you  now. 
I  cannot  live  in  the  United  States  —  never.  My  home 
is  here.  I  am  not  born  for  the  strife  of  your  land. 
They  have  soldiers  enough  and  better  than  I.  It  is 
in  the  turbulent  east  that  we  shall  live  —  you  and  I." 
Tears  came  into  her  eyes. 

"  Am  I  not  to  —  to  go  back  to  Washin'ton?  "  She 
tried  to  smile. 

"  When  Prince  Dantan  says  we  may,  perhaps." 

"  Oh,  he  is  my  friend,"  she  cried  in  great  relief. 
"  I  can  get  any  favor  I  ask  of  him.  Oh,  Paul,  Paul,  I 
know  that  my  folks  will  think  I'm  an  awful  fool,  but 
I  can't  help  it.  I  shall  let  you  know  that  I  intend 
to  be  a  blissful  one,  at  least." 

He  kissed  her  time  and  again,  out  there  in  the  dark, 
soft  light,  of  the  fairy  grotto. 

"  Before  we  can  be  married,  dearest,  I  have  a  jour- 


ney  of  some  importance  to  take,"  he  announced,  as 
they  arose  to  leave  the  bower  behind. 

"  A  j  ourney  ?     Where  ?  " 

"  To  Vienna.  I  have  an  account  to  settle  with  a 
man  who  has  just  taken  up  his  residence  there."  His 
hand  went  to  his  sword-hilt  and  his  dark  eyes  gleamed 
with  the  fire  she  loved.  "  Count  Marlanx  and  I  have 
postponed  business  to  attend  to,  dearest.  Have  no 
fear  for  me.  My  sword  is  honest  and  I  shall  bring 
it  back  to  you  myself." 

She  shuddered  and  knew  that  it  would  be  as  he  said. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 


CLEAR    SKIES 

HE  Duke  of  Matz  and  his  associates 
reached  Edelweiss  in  the  afternoon. 
Their  attendants  and  servants  carried 
luggage  bearing  the  princely  crest  of 
Dawsbergen,  and  meant  for  Prince 
Dantan  and  his  sister  Candace.  In 
the  part  of  the  castle  set  apart  for  the  visitors 
an  important  consultation  was  held  behind  closed 
doors.  There  Dantan  met  his  countrymen  and 
permitted  them  to  renew  the  pledge  of  fealty  that  had 
been  shattered  by  the  overpowering  influence  of  his 
mad  half-brother.  What  took  place  at  this  secret 
meeting  the  outside  world  never  knew.  Only  the 
ha'ppy  result  was  made  known.  Prince  Dantan  was 
to  resume  his  reign  over  Dawsbergen,  as  if  it  never 
had  been  interrupted. 

The  castle,  brilliant  from  bottom  to  top,  filled  with 
music  and  laughter,  experienced  a  riot  of  happiness 
such  as  it  had  not  known  in  years.  The  war  clouds 
had  lifted,  the  sunshine  of  contentment  was  breaking 
through  the  darkness,  arid  there  was  rejoicing  in  the 
hearts  of  all.  Bright  and  glorious  were  the  colors 
that  made  up  the  harmony  of  peace.  Men  and  women 

347 


348       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

of  high  degree  came  to  the  historic  old  walls,  garbed 
in  the  riches  of  royalty  and  nobility.  To  Beverly 
Calhoun  it  was  the  most  enchanting  sight  she  had 
ever  looked  upon.  From  the  galleries  she  gazed  down 
into  the  halls  glittering  with  the  wealth  of  Grau- 
stark  and  was  conscious  of  a  strange  feeling  of  glorifi 
cation.  She  felt  that  she  had  a  part  in  this  jubilee. 
With  Candace  she  descended  the  grand  staircase  and 
mingled  with  the  resplendent  crowd. 

She  was  the  center  of  attraction.  Dressed  in  a 
simple,  close-fitting  gown  of  black  velvet,  without 
an  ornament,  her  white  arms  and  shoulders  gleaming 
in  the  soft  light  from  the  chandeliers,  she  was  an 
enticing  creature  to  be  admired  by  men  and  women 
alike.  Two  stalwart  Americans  felt  their  hearts 
bound  with  pride  as  they  saw  the  conquest  their  coun 
trywoman  was  making.  Candace,  her  constant  com 
panion  in  these  days,  was  consumed  with  delight. 

"  You  are  the  prettiest  thing  in  all  this  world," 
•she  ecstatically  whispered  into  Beverly's  ear.  "  My 
brother  says  so,  too,"  she  added  conclusively.  Bev 
erly  was  too  true  a  woman  not  to  revel  in  this  subtle 
flattery. 

The  great  banquet  hall  was  to  be  thrown  open  at 
midnight.  There  was  dancing  and  song  during  the 
hours  leading  up  to  this  important  event.  Beverly 
was  entranced.  She  had  seen  brilliant  affairs  at 
home,  but  none  of  them  compared  to  this  in  regal 
splendor.  It  was  the  sensuous,  overpowering  splen 
dor  of  the  east. 

Prince  Dantan  joined  the  throng  just  before  mid- 


CLEAR    SKIES  349 

night.  He  made  his  way  direct  to  the  little  circle  of 
which  Beverly  and  Candace  formed  the  center.  His 
rich,  full  military  costume  gave  him  a  new  distinc 
tion  that  quite  overcame  Beverly.  They  fell  into  an 
animated  conversation,  exchanging  shafts  of  wit  that 
greatly  amused  those  who  could  understand  the  lan 
guage. 

"  You  must  remember,"  Beverly  said  in  reply  to  one 
of  Ravone's  sallies,  "  that  Americans  are  not  in  the 
least  awed  by  Europe's  greatness.  It  has  come  to 
the  pass  when  we  call  Europe  our  playground.  We 
now  go  to  Europe  as  we  go  to  the  circus  or  the  county 
fair  at  home.  It  isn't  much  more  trouble,  you  know, 
and  we  must  see  the  sights." 

"  Alas,  poor  Europe !  "  he  laughed.  As  he  strolled 
about  with  her  and  Candace  he  pointed  out  certain 
men  to  her,  asking  her  to  tax  her  memory  in  the 
effort  to  recall  their  faces  if  not  their  apparel.  She 
readily  recognized  in  the  lean,  tired  faces  the  men 
she  had  met  first  at  the  Inn  of  the  Hawk  and  Raven. 

"  They  were  vagabonds  then,  Miss  Calhoun.  Now 
they  are  noblemen.  Does  the  transition  startle  you  ?  " 

"  Isn't  Baldos  among  them  ?  "  she  asked,  voicing 
the  query  that  had  been  uppermost  in  her  mind  since 
the  moment  when  she  looked  down  from  the  gal 
leries  and  failed  to  see  him.  She  was  wondering  how 
he  would  appear  in  court  costume. 

"  You  forget  that  Baldos  is  only  a  guard,"  he  said 
kindly. 

"  He  is  a  courtier,  nevertheless,"  she  retorted. 

She  was  vaguely  disappointed   because  he  was  miss- 


350       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

ing  from  the  scene  of  splendor.  It  proved  to  her 
that  caste  overcame  all  else  in  the  rock-ribbed  east. 
The  common  man,  no  matter  how  valiant,  had  no  place 
in  such  affairs  as  these.  Her  pride  was  suffering. 
She  was  as  a  queen  among  the  noblest  of  the  realm. 
As  the  wife  of  Baldos  she  would  live  in  another  world 
—  on  the  outskirts  of  this  one  of  splendor  and  arro 
gance.  A  stubborn,  defiant  little  frown  appeared  on 
her  brow  as  she  pictured  herself  in  her  mind's  eye 
standing  afar  off  with  "  the  man  "  Baldos,  looking 
at  the  opulence  she  could  not  reach.  Her  impetuous, 
rebellious  little  heart  was  thumping  bitterly  as  she 
considered  this  single  phase  of  the  life  to  come.  She 
was  ready  to  cry  out  against  the  injustice  of  it  all. 
The  little  frown  was  portentous  of  deep-laid  designs. 
She  would  break  down  this  cruel  barrier  that  kept 
Baldos  from  the  fields  over  which  prejudice  alone 
held  sway.  Her  love  for  him  and  her  determina 
tion  to  be  his  wife  were  not  in  the  least  dulled  by 
these  reflections. 

The  doors  to  the  great  banquet-hall  were  thrown 
open  at  last  and  in  the  disorder  that  followed  she  won 
dered  who  was  to  lead  her  to  the  feasting.  The  Duke 
of  Mizrox  claimed  the  Princess  Candace. 

"  I  am  to  have  the  honor,"  said  someone  at  her  side, 
and  the  voice  was  the  one  she  least  expected  to  hear 
utter  the  words.  The  speaker  was  the  man  who  de 
served  the  place  beside  Yetive  —  Prince  Dantan 
himself.  k 

Bewildered,  her  heart  palpitating  with  various  emo 
tions,  «he  took  his  arm  and  allowed  herself  to  be  drawn 


CLEAR    SKIES  351 

wonder  in  gly  through  the  massive  doors.  As  they 
entered,  followed  by  the  brilliant  company,  the  superb 
orchestra  that  Beverly  had  so  often  enjoyed,  began 
to  play  the  stirring  "  Hands  Across  the  Sea."  The 
musicians  themselves  seemed  to  have  caught  the  uni 
versal  feeling  of  joy  and  mirth  that  was  in  the  air, 
and  played  as  if  inspire^,  their  leader  bowing  low  to 
the  young  American  girl  as  she  passed.  It  was  his 
affectionate  tribute  to  her.  Prince  Dantan,  to  her 
amazement,  led  her  up  the  entire  length  of  the  ban 
quet  hall,  to  the  head  of  the  royal  table,  gorgeous 
with  the  plate  of  a  hundred  Graustark  rulers,  placing 
her  on  his  left  and  next  to  the  slightly  raised 
royal  chairs.  Candace  was  on  his  right,  the  picture 
of  happiness.  Beverly  felt  dizzy,  weak.  She  looked 
helplessly  at  Prince  Dantan.  His  smile  was  puzzling. 
As  if  in  a  daze,  she  saw  Grenfall  Lorry  with  the 
Countess  Yvonne  standing  exactly  opposite  to  her, 
he  with  the  others,  awaiting  the  appearance  of  the 
princess  and  the  one  who  was  to  sit  beside  her. 

The  music  ceased,  there  was  a  hush  over  the  room, 
and  then  Yetive  came  forward,  magnificent  in  her 
royal  robes,  smiling  and  happy.  A  tall  man  in  the 
uniform  of  an  exalted  army  officer  stood  beside  her, 
gold  braid  and  bejeweled  things  across  his  breast. 
Beverly  turned  deathly  white,  her  figure  stiffened  and 
then  relaxed. 

It  was  Baldos ! 

She  never  knew  how  she  dropped  into  the  chair  the 
servant  held  for  her.  She  only  knew  that  his  dark 
eyes  were  smiling  at  her  with  love  and  mischief  in 


352       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

their  depths.  There  was  a  vague,  uncertain  sound 
of  chattering;  someone  was  talking  eagerly  to  her, 
but  she  heard  him  not;  there  was  a  standing  toast  to 
the  Prince  of  Dawsbergen;  then  the  audacious  ghost 
of  Baldos  was  proposing  a  ringing  response  to  the 
Princess  Yetive ;  the  orchestra  Avas  playing  the  Grau- 
stark  and  Dawsbergen  national  hymns.  But  it  was 
all  as  a  dream  to  her.  At  last  she  heard  Candace 
calling  to  her,  her  face  wreathed  in  smiles.  Scores 
of  eyes  seemed  to  be  looking  at  her  and  all  of  them 
were  full  of  amusement. 

"  Now,  say  that  a  girl  can't  keep  a  secret,"  came 
to  her  ears  from  the  radiant  sister  of  Dantan.  Ra- 
vone,  at  her  side,  spoke  to  her,  and  she  turned  to  him 
dizzily. 

"  You  first  knew  me  as  Ravone,  Miss  Calhoun,"  he 
was  saying  genially.  "  Then  it  became  necessary,  by 
royal  command,  for  me  to  be  Prince  Dantan.  May 
I  have  the  honor  of  introducing  myself  in  the  proper 
person?  I  am  Christobal  of  Rapp-Thorburg,  and  I 
shall  be  no  other  than  he  hereafter.  The  friendship 
that  binds  me  to  Prince  Dantan,  at  last  in  his  proper 
place  beside  the  Princess  of  Graustark,  is  to  be 
strengthened  into  a  dearer  relationship  before  many 
days  have  passed." 

"  The  Princess  Candace  ceases  to  be  his  sister," 
volunteered  the  Duke  of  Mizrox.  "  She  is  and  long 
has  been  his  affianced  wife." 

Enchanted  and  confused  over  all  that  had  occurred 
in  the  last  few  moments,  Beverly  murmured  her  heart 
felt  congratulations  to  the  joyous  couple.  The  or- 


CLEAR    SKIES  353 

chcstra  had  again  ceased  playing.  All  eyes  turned  to 
Baldos, —  the  real  Prince  Dantan, —  who,  glass  in 
hand,  rose  to  his  feet. 

"  Your  Royal  Highness,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen : 
Graustark  and  Dawsbergen  are  entering  a  new  era. 
I  pledge  you  my  honor  that  never  again  shall  the 
slightest  misunderstanding  exist  between  them.  They 
shall  go  forth  to  their  glorious  destiny  as  one  people. 
Your  gracious  ruler  has  seen  fit  to  bestow  her  hand 
and  affections  upon  an  American  gentleman,  your 
esteemed  prince  consort.  We  all  know  how  loyally 
the  people  have  approved  her  choice.  There  is  one 
present,  a  trusted  friend  of  your  beautiful  princess, 
and  lovingly  called  in  your  hearts,  Beverly  of  Grau 
stark.  Whose  example  more  worthy  for  me  to  follow 
than  that  of  the  Princess  Yetive?  With  whom  could 
I  better  share  my  throne  and  please  you  more  than 
with  your  beloved  American  protege.  I  ask  you  to 
drink  a  toast  to  my  betrothed,  Beverly  Calhoun,  the 
future  Princess  of  Dawsbergen." 

Every  glass  was  raised  and  the  toast  drunk  amidst 
ringing  cheers.  The  military  band  crashed  out  the 
air  so  dear  to  all  Americans,  especially  to  southern 
hearts.  Beverly  was  too  overcome  to  speak. 

"  You  all !  "  she  exclaimed. 

There  was  a  tremendous  commotion  in  the  gallery. 
People  were  standing  in  their  seats  half  frightened 
and  amused,  their  attention  attracted  by  the  unusual 
scene.  A  portly  negress  totally  unconscious  of  the 
sensation  she  was  causing,  her  feet  keeping  time  to 
the  lively  strains  of  music,  was  frantically  waving  a 


354       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

red  and  yellow  bandanna  handkerchief.  It  was  Aunt 
Fanny,  and  in  a  voice  that  could  be  heard  all  over 
the  banquet  hall,  she  shouted :  "  Good  Lawd,  honey, 
ef  der  ain't  playin '  '  Away  Down  South  in  Dixie,' 

Hooray !  Hooray  !  " 

*  #  *  * 

Hours  later  Beverly  was  running,  confused  and 
humbled,  through  the  halls  to  her  room,  when  a  swifter 
one  than  she  came  up  and  checked  her  flight. 

"  Beverly,"  cried  an  eager  voice.  She  slackened 
her  pace  and  glanced  over  her  shoulder.  The  smil 
ing,  triumphant  face  of  Baldos  met  her  gaze.  The 
upper  hall  was  almost  clear  of  people.  She  was 
strangely  frightened,  distressingly  diffident.  Her 
door  was  not  far  away,  and  she  would  have  reached 
it  in  an  instant  later  had  he  not  laid  a  restraining, 
compelling  hand  upon  her  arm.  Then  she  turned  to 
face  him,  her  lips  parted  in  protest.  "  Don't  look 
at  me  in  that  way,"  he  cried  imploringly.  "  Come, 
dearest,  come  with  me.  We  can  be  alone  in  the  nook 
at  the  end  of  the  hall.  Heavens,  I  am  the  happiest 
being  in  all  the  world.  It  has  turned  out  as  I  have 
prayed  it  should." 

She  allowed  him  to  lead  her  to  the  darkened  nook. 
In  her  soul  she  was  wondering  why  her  tongue  was 
so  powerless.  There  were  a  hundred  things  she 
wanted  to  say  to  him,  but  now  that  the  moment  had 
come  she  was  voiceless.  She  only  could  look  help 
lessly  at  him.  Joy  seemed  to  be  paralyzed  within 
her;  it  was  as  if  she  slept  and  could  not  be  awakened. 
As  she  sank  upon  the  cushion  he  dropped  to  his  knee 


"I  hated   you  to-night,   I   thought,"   she  cried, 
taking  his  face  in  her  hands. 


CLEAR    SKIES  355 

before  her,  his  hand  clasping  hers  with  a  fervor  that 
thrilled  her  with  life.  As  he  spoke,  her  pulses  quick 
ened  and  the  blood  began  to  race  furiously. 

"  I  have  won  your  love,  Beverly,  by  the  fairest 
means.  There  has  never  been  an  hour  in  which  I 
have  not  been  struggling  for  this  glorious  end.  You 
gave  yourself  to  me  when  you  knew  I  could  be  noth 
ing  more  than  the  humblest  soldier.  It  was  the  sacri 
fice  of  love.  You  will  forgive  my  presumption  —  my 
very  insolence,  dear  one,  when  I  tell  you  that  my  soul 
is  the  forfeit  I  pay.  It  is  yours  through  all  eternity. 
I  love  you.  I  can  give  you  the  riches  of  the  world  as 
well  as  the  wealth  of  the  heart.  The  vagabond  dies ; 
your  poor  humble  follower  gives  way  to  the  supplicat 
ing  prince.  You  would  have  lived  in  a  cot  as  the 
guardsman's  wife;  you  will  take  the  royal  palace 
instead?  " 

Beverly  was  herself  again.  The  spell  was  gone. 
Her  eyes  swam  with  happiness  and  love ;  the  suffering 
her  pride  had  sustained  was  swept  into  a  heap  labeled 
romance,  and  she  was  rejoicing. 

"  I  hated  you  to-night,  I  thought,"  she  cried,  tak 
ing  his  face  in  her  hands.  "  It  looked  as  though  you 
had  played  a  trick  on  me.  It  was  mean,  dear.  I 
couldn't  help  thinking  that  you  had  used  me  as  a 
plaything  and  it  —  it  made  me  furious.  But  it  is 
different  now.  I  see,  oh,  so  plainly.  And  just  as 
I  had  resigned  myself  to  the  thought  of  spending  the 
rest  of  my  life  in  a  cottage,  away  outside  the  pale 
of  this  glorious  life !  Oh,  it  is  like  a  fairy  tale !  " 

"  Ah,  but  it  was  not  altogether  a  trick,  dear  one.. 


356       BEVERLY    OF    GRAUSTARK 

There  was  no  assurance  that  I  could  regain  the 
throne  —  not  until  the  very  last.  Without  it  I  should 
have  been  the  beggar  instead  of  the  prince.  We 
would  have  lived  in  a  hovel,  after  all.  Fortune  was 
with  me.  I  deceived  you  for  months,  Beverly  —  my 
Beverly,  but  it  was  for  the  best.  In  defense  of  my 
honor  and  dignity,  however,  I  must  tell  you  that  the 
princess  has  known  for  many  days  that  I  am  Dantan. 
I  told  her  the  truth  when  Christobal  came  that  day 
with  the  news.  It  was  all  well  enough  for  me  to 
pass  myself  off  as  a  vagabond,  but  it  would  have  been 
unpardonable  to  foist  him  upon  her  as  the  prince." 

"And  she  has  known  for  a  week?"  cried  Beverly 
in  deep  chagrin. 

"  And  the  whole  court  has  known." 

"  I  alone  was  blind  ?  " 

"  As  blind  as  the  proverb.  Thank  God,  I  won 
your  love  as  a  vagabond.  I  can  treasure  it  as  the 
richest  of  my  princely  possessions.  You  have  not 
said  that  you  will  go  to  my  castle  with  me,  dear." 

She  leaned  forward  unsteadily  and  he  took  her  in 
his  eager  arms.  Their  lips  met  and  their  eyes  closed 
in  the  ecstasy  of  bliss.  After  a  long  time  she  lifted 
her  lids  and  her  eyes  of  gray  looked  solemnly  into 
his  dark  ones. 

"  I  have  much  to  ask  you  about,  many  explanations 
to  demand,  sir,"  she  said  threateningly. 

"  By  the  rose  that  shields  my  heart,  you  shall  have 
the  truth,"  he  laughed  back  at  her.  "  I  am  still  your 
servant.  My  enlistment  is  endless.  I  shall  alway* 
serve  your  highness." 


CLEAR    SKIES  357 

"  Your  highness ! "  she  murmured  reflectively. 
Then  a  joyous  smile  of  realization  broke  over  her 
face.  "  Isn't  it  wonderful?  " 

"  Do  you  think  your  brothers  will  let  me  come  to 
Washington,  now?  "  he  asked  teasingly. 

"  It  does  seem  different,  doesn't  it?  "  she  murmured, 
with  a  strange  little  smile.  "  You  will  come  for 
me?" 

"  To  the  ends  of  the  earth,  your  highness." 


THE  END 


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